Painting Birds to Save Them: The Critical Role of Art in the Bird Conservation Movement

John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, chromolithograph, 1860; Mass Audubon Collection, bequest of Constance Killam and Elizabeth Killam-Rogers, 1977.

Charley Harper, Mystery of the Missing Migrants, acrylic, 1992; Mass Audubon Collection, museum purchase, 1992.

A new exhibition at the Museum of American Bird Art will spotlight some of the most spectacular works of art depicting American birdlife. Painting Birds to Save Them traces the history of bird conservation from its beginnings to the present era, using a selection of the exquisite works of art that helped convince the public that birds were worth saving.

The artworks on view span nearly two centuries, beginning with the iconic art of John James Audubon and including works by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Roger Tory Peterson, Andy Warhol, James Fenwick Lansdowne, Lars Jonsson, David Sibley, and many more.

Collector Eddie Woodin has generously loaned many artworks from his extensive collection of bird art. Visitors will also view art from Mass Audubon’s own collection, as well as works on loan from the Academy of Natural Sciences, Canadian Museum of Nature, College of Charleston, Massachusetts Archives, National Audubon, National Geographic, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Woodson Art Museum and other generous lenders.

The exhibition was curated by Christopher Leahy, who holds the Gerard A. Bertrand Chair of Natural History and Field Ornithology at Mass Audubon. Julianne Mehegan provided research assistance. Mass Audubon is grateful for the support of generous donors and friends, including the Brookline Bird Club, Buteo Books, the Cape Cod Bird Club, Copley Fine Art Auctions, Powers Gallery and the South Shore Bird Club.