> Naturalist John James Audubon is best known for his studies and paintings ofwhich animals?And the answer: birds. Photo credit: AudubonBorn in modern-day Haiti, John James Audubon was anornithologist, naturalist, and painter who extensively documented North Americanbirds and even identified 25 new species. His book The Birds of America isconsidered one of the most comprehensive books about birds ever completed.Photo credit: AudubonInterestingly, Audubon had no direct role in theorganization that bears his name. George Grinnell, one of the founders of theAudubon Society in the late 1800s, was tutored by John Audubon's widow, LucyAudubon. Grinnell knew that an association with this name would inspire anassociation with bird conservation, habitat preservation and the pursuit ofknowledge. Today, the name Audubon has come to stand for just that. The AudubonSociety has been a major player in bird conservation for more than twocenturies, and ensured a sustainable environment for countless birds. Did you know?Out of his 435 watercolor paintings of North American birds, just two depictedhumans. The first of which shows a snowy egret and a generic hunter far in thebackground. The second (featured above) depicts the golden eagle, and issurrounded in mystery. The figure in the back of the painting was assumed to beAudubon himself, yet he vanished when the painting entered publication. No oneis sure why Audubon removed his figure to this day. Check out this video to learn more about conservation achievements of theAudubon Society: