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John James Audubon Quotes

Ornithologist

John James Audubon was a renowned ornithologist and natural history painter, famous for his exquisite illustrations of birds. Born on April 26, 1785, and passing away on January 27, 1851, Audubon conducted extensive observations and research on North American birds in the early 19th century. His work 'The Birds of America' remains a classic in the field of natural history literature.

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Famous John James Audubon Quotes

“I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating them in the best way I could.”

Way Song Listening Habit Bird Best Way Peculiar Gave Up

Book:Audubon and His Journals

Source: Audubon and His Journals

“But hopes are shy birds flying at a great distance, seldom reached by the best of guns.”

Bird Gun Distance Flying Shy Bird Flying

Author:John James Audubon

“When the bird and the book disagree, believe the bird.”

Believe Book Bird Disagree

Author:John James Audubon

“But the moment a bird was dead, no matter how beautiful it had been in life, the pleasure of possession became blunted for me.”

Matter Moments Beautiful Pleasure Bird Possession

Book:Audubon, by Himself: A Profile of John James Audubon from Writings

Source: Audubon, by Himself: A Profile of John James Audubon from Writings

“Look at that mallard as he floats on the lake; see his elevated head glittering with emerald green, his amber eyes glancing in the light! Even at this distance, he has marked you, and suspects that you bear no goodwill towards him, for he sees that you have a gun, and he has many a time been frightened by its report, or that of some other. The wary bird draws his feet under his body, springs upon then, opens his wings, and with loud quacks bids you farewell.”

Source: Ornithological Biography: Or An Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States of America; Accompanied by Descriptions of the Objects Represented in the Work Entitled The Birds of America, and Interspersed with Delineations of American Scenery and Manners. 5 Vol. Il. Q.

“A Mocking Bird regularly resorts to the south angle of a chimney top and salutes us with sweetest notes from the rising of the moon until about midnight.”

Art Artist Moon Bird Notes South Rising Angle Midnight Resorts Sweetest Salute Chimneys Mocking Bird

Author:John James Audubon

“I can scarcely manage to scribble a tolerable English letter. I know that I am not a scholar, but meantime I am aware that no man living knows better than I do the habits of our birds.”

Knows Men I Can Habit Bird Letters Manage Scholar Tolerable Scribbles

Book:Audubon and His Journals

Source: Audubon and His Journals

“Never give up listening to the sounds of birds.”

Giving Sound Listening Giving Up Bird Never Giving Up

Author:John James Audubon

“If only the bird with the loveliest song sang, the forest would be a lonely place.”

Ifs Would Be Song Bird Lonely Forests Lonely Places

Author:John James Audubon