Art&Nature

The Harbingers (detail), Sparrow, cut Geological maps of Great Britain, pins, installation, dimensions variable, 2011/Claire Brewster
British artist Clair Brewster uses old maps and atlases items to create, through careful cutting, intricate avian forms.

From the common loon to the misunderstood blue jay, it’s no secret that Audubon and its readers welcome the sight of birds (whether they’re in our backyards or on textiles). But we can’t help but notice that our winged friends are popular with the non-birding crowd: Walk into any Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie and you’re sure to find a dozen products adorned with birds. With this trend in mind, Portlandia, a comedy on the Independent Film Channel, gave us “Put A Bird On It”, a hilarious sketch about Bryce Shivers and Lisa Eversman, who put birds on things to “make it pretty.”

The eye of the Papuan forest dragon (Hypsilurus dilophus), a sit-and-wait predator, scans the forest for insects and small vertebrates. Photo: Piotr Naskrecki
 
The Papuan forest dragon pictured above is just one of the captivating creatures scientist and photographer Piotr Naskrecki has captured in his new book, Relics: Travels in Nature's Time Machine. Naskrecki traveled the globe in search of creatures and habitats that have persisted, nearly untouched, for hundreds of millions of years. The result is a book packed with stunning images and fascinating information.
 
Relics—and a print of your choice—could be yours. We've teamed up with the University of Chicago Press to give away 10 copies. Click here to enter the giveaway, see more images from the book, and learn more about it. All you have to do is leave a comment and be sure to include a viable email address (it won't show up on the page). Good luck!

Photo by Kevin Shank, Nature Friend

Albinos are hard to come by: Only one in 17,000 humans are believed to have albinism, and there are seven billion of us. Which is why getting pictures of an albino ruby-throated hummingbird – a tough bird to photograph as it is – can be difficult.

But Kevin Shank and his eldest four sons managed to do just that last August, capturing an array of beautiful pictures of the unique creature.

Audubon's "Blue Heron"

“Audubon’s Art & Legacy,” a panel conversation at the National Arts Club in New York City brought together three distinct perspectives on John James Audubon’s life and work: Robert Peck, a historian at the Academy of Natural Science in Philadelphia; Jonathan Rosen, a writer and birder; and Walton Ford, a renowned American painter.

Worried about making it through the long, dark days of winter until spring migration? Or maybe just looking to round out your bird and birding library? In either case, you’d be wise to check out The Birding Life: A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield.

Victoria-crowned pigeon, Tina Burke

To pass the hours on this beautiful Friday, another installment of Birds Make the Art, for your viewing pleasure. It’s visually stunning work (like the piece above by Tina Burke) starring birds in all their glory.

Got a hankering for more? Click here for part 1, part 2, and part 3. Enjoy!

 
If you're taking your kids (or just your inner child) to see the new hit movie The Muppets, there are a few things you should know about this controversial film. Yes, controversial. Sure, it's funny, delightful, and heartwarming, but it’s also stirring up heated debates: Is it brainwashing youngsters to be anti-oil? Can or can't penguins talk?

Artist Petah Coyne's hauntingly beautiful sculpture pays tribute to Flannery O'Connor's deep fascination with peacocks at The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

Black-necked Stilt. John James Audubon Birds of America.
 
Anyone can now get a daily look inside of one of the most valuable books in the world. Birds of America, the masterwork of 19th century naturalist John James Audubon’s, is on display at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Bird lovers can view the bird of the day online, too.