Ornithological biography, Vol. 1 (of 5) : $b An account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America

"Ornithological Biography, Vol. 1 (of 5)" by John James Audubon is a scientific publication written in the early 19th century. The work provides a detailed account of the habits of various birds native to the United States, with descriptions of their behaviors, habitats, and appearances, as well as insights into Audubon's own experiences and observations as a naturalist. The opening of the biography sets the stage for Audubon's profound love for nature, particularly birds, from an early age, and reflects on the formative experiences that shaped his passion. He recounts his childhood adventures in the woodlands and his desire to capture the beauty of the avian species around him through drawing and observation. His narrative traverses from his youth in America to his travels for research, illustrating his determination to detail his studies and the challenges he faced along the way, including the struggle to have his illustrations published. This introduction establishes not only his expertise but also his heartfelt commitment to the beauty and intricacies of American wildlife, which is likely to resonate with readers who share a passion for ornithology and nature. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John James Audubon was a French-American self-trained artist, naturalist, and ornithologist. His combined interests in art and ornithology turned into a plan to make a complete pictorial record of all the bird species of North America. He was notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations, which depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, a color-plate book titled The Birds of America (1827–1839), is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon is also known for identifying 25 new species. He is the eponym of the National Audubon Society, and his name adorns a large number of towns, neighborhoods, and streets across the United States. Dozens of scientific names first published by Audubon are still in use by the scientific community. In recent years his legacy has become controversial for his involvement in slavery and his racist writings as well as allegations of dishonesty.