The Birds That Audubon Missed - by Kenn Kaufman

About the Book

"Naturalist Kenn Kaufman examines the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his artistic and ornithologist peers to show how what they saw (and what they missed) reflects how we perceive and understand the natural world"--

Book Synopsis

Renowned naturalist Kenn Kaufman examines the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his artistic and ornithologist peers in this fascinating "blend of history, science, art, biography, and memoir" (Booklist, starred review) that is "a bird lovers' delight" (Kirkus Reviews).

Raging ambition. Towering egos. Competition under a veneer of courtesy. Heroic effort combined with plagiarism, theft, exaggeration, and fraud. This was the state of bird study in eastern North America during the early 1800s, as a handful of intrepid men raced to find the last few birds that were still unknown to science.

The most famous name in the bird world was John James Audubon, who painted spectacular portraits of birds. But although his images were beautiful, creating great art was not his main goal. Instead, he aimed to illustrate (and write about) as many different species as possible, obsessed with trying to outdo his rival, Alexander Wilson. George Ord, a fan and protégé of Wilson, held a bitter grudge against Audubon for years, claiming he had faked much of his information and his scientific claims. A few of Audubon's birds were pure fiction, and some of his writing was invented or plagiarized. Other naturalists of the era, including Charles Bonaparte (nephew of Napoleon), John Townsend, and Thomas Nuttall, also became entangled in the scientific derby, as they stumbled toward an understanding of the natural world--an endeavor that continues to this day.

Despite this intense competition, a few species--including some surprisingly common songbirds, hawks, sandpipers, and more--managed to evade discovery for years. Here, renowned bird expert and artist Kenn Kaufman explores this period in history from a new angle, by considering the birds these people discovered and, especially, the ones they missed. Kaufman has created portraits of the birds that Audubon never saw, attempting to paint them in that artist's own stunning style, showing how our understanding of birds continues to gain clarity, even as some mysteries persist from Audubon's time until ours.

Review Quotes

"Kaufman makes it clear that Audubon's art had a profound impact on the Western understanding of birds, as did the work of many of his contemporaries. Kaufman illuminates the work of these often under-acknowledged ornithologists, as well as the artistic skill Audubon employed. . . . The encompassing delight that Kaufman gets from birds is evident in many places, reminding even the most jaded birder that each experience we have with birds is a gift." --American Scientist

"Kenn Kaufman artfully guides readers on a fascinating journey. . . . This book will appeal to a wide audience, including ornitho­logists, birders, and anyone interested in American history. . . . The Birds That Audubon Missed is engrossing, and best enjoyed when you can sink into the book several chap­ters at a time. . . . It is a beautiful, well-written, and well-researched book that will surely cap­tivate anyone with an interest in the avian world." --American Ornithological Society

"Kenn Kaufman pays tribute to John James Audubon by painting species that eluded the great ornithologist's brush. . . . Mr. Kaufman reminds us that our understanding of bird life continues to evolve." --Wall Street Journal

"The gap between modern processes and those of the early years of North American ornithology could hardly be wider, and Kaufman helps make that previous time understandable without removing any of the drama. . . . As we follow naturalists watching similar (but not identical) brown thrushes or trying to sort out nearly indistinguishable shorebirds (still a problem in the contemporary era), we learn about the natural world, always aided by Kaufman's persistent fascination. The book ends not only with Kaufman's own excitement, but with his joy in seeing that wonder spark in a new generation, something that his latest book should only help to do." --Spectrum Culture

"Kaufman delves into the motivations, achievements, and rivalries of early American ornithologists and explores the challenges they faced in identifying and describing North American bird life. Interwoven with Kaufman's musings on conservation, technology, and the meaning of discovery, it is at heart a reflection of the author's deep sense of connection to the natural world, especially to birds, and of his enthusiasm for helping others find that connection for themselves. . . . The Birds That Audubon Missed is ultimately a celebration of a more personal sense of discovery, less tied to who saw what first and more to do with what new experiences do for our sense of wonder at the world around us." --The New York Times

"A must-read for birders curious about so much that lies hidden behind the names in our pastime . . . The Birds That Audubon Missed isn't a dry history; it's as alive as the birds it describes, thanks to the personal aspect Kaufman weaves into the narrative. . . . The era of great discovery never ends if all discovery is personal. One's own revelatory experiences in the natural world are what truly matter." --Christian Cooper, Washington Post

"An exciting period . . . Kaufman's blend of history, science, art, biography, and memoir will intrigue birders and readers fascinated by the larger context. . . . A lively narrative." --Booklist (starred review)

"Splendid . . . A high-flying study of Audubon's scientific contributions and major missteps . . . The discerning attention Kaufman pays to overlooked corners of his subject's biography reveals Audubon's fabulist streak (he ginned up funds for his first book by inventing an eagle with a rumored 10-foot wingspan) and ethical lapses (he once passed off a hawk specimen from a fellow Academy of Natural Sciences member as his own). Kaufman includes his own illustrations of the birds discussed, gamely mimicking Audubon's style while bringing a sensibility distinctly his own." --Publishers Weekly

"Kaufman is a graceful writer, his commitment to his subject shines through, and the beautiful illustrations make this book a bird lovers' delight. A deeply satisfying read." --Kirkus Reviews

"With expertise, empathy, and thoughtful commentary Kenn Kaufman takes a fresh look at the early days of American ornithology, relating it to the common experiences of modern birders, and the history comes alive as never before. It's a great concept, and makes this a unique and fascinating book." --David Allen Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide to Birds