Audubon Birds of America

Audubon Page-Turning

John James Audubon’s double-elephant folio The Birds of America (London, 1827-1838) can be viewed during the open hours of the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives’s reading room on the third floor of the Hawthorne-Longfellow Library at Bowdoin College.

Bowdoin’s set of Birds of America has been on permanent display since 1956, initially in the former library in Hubbard Hall before moving to the Hawthorne-Longfellow Library in 1965. To showcase this resplendent work while limiting the light exposure that can damage the prints’ sensitive watercolors, only one volume, turned to a single print, is exhibited at a time. In January 2016, Special Collections director Kat Stefko and education and outreach librarian Marieke Van Der Steenhoven inaugurated a monthly page-turning event, beginning with the first plate, in order to better regulate the amount of light each print receives.

Upcoming page-turning events are listed on our Events page and below is an archive of past birds and guest speakers.

DateAudubon’s BirdCurrent NameGuest SpeakerWatch Live Stream Recording
May 2022Ivory-billed WoodpeckerIvory-billed WoodpeckerPeter Logan ’75Watch May ’22 Live Stream
April 2022Rathbone WarblerYellow WarblerSejal Prachand ’24Watch April ’22 Live Stream
March 2022Swamp SparrowSwamp SparrowJeff Holt & Bert Filemyr Watch March ’22 Live Stream
February 2022White-eyed Flycatcher, or VireoWhite-eyed VireoSylus CaswellWatch February ’22 Live Stream
December 2021Passenger PigeonPassenger Pigeon Susan Wegner, Associate Professor of Art History Watch December ’21 Live Stream
November 2021Great Horned OwlGreat Horned OwlPoet Lisa May Hibl ’94Watch November ’21 Live Stream
October 2021Carbonated WarblerCarbonated Warbler Artist Didier Mutel and Bookseller Gerald W. CloudWatch October ’21 Live Stream
September 2021Chestnut-sided WarblerChestnut-sided WarblerSC&A StaffWatch September ’21 Live Stream
May 2021 Hermit ThrushHermit Thrush Peter Logan, Bowdoin Class of 1975 and author of Audubon in LabradorWatch May ’21 Live Stream
April 2021 Loggerhead ShrikeLoggerhead ShrikeMarshall Iliff, Bowdoin Class of 1997 and Project Leader at eBird Watch April ’21 Live Stream 
March 2021Red-shouldered HawkRed-shouldered HawkScott Weidensaul, ornithologist and managing editor of Birds of Maine (Princeton University Press, 2020) Watch March ’21 Live Stream 
February 2021Cuvier’s KingletAudubon mystery bird Katie Galletta, Bowdoin Class of  2021 Watch February ’21 Live Stream 
December 2020Rice BirdBobolinkJacqueline L. Scott, Black Outdoors, PhD studentWatch December ’20 Live Stream 
November 2020 Painted FinchPainted BuntingMembers of Bowdoin Class of 2024, enrolled in Prof. Dana Byrd’s class Faked, Forged, Stolen, and Repatriated: Crimes Against Art Watch November ’20 Live Stream
October 2020 Chuck-will’s WidowChuck-will’s WidowSC&A StaffWatch October ’20 Live Stream 
September 2020 Red-tailed HawkRed-tailed HawkGallerist and Audubon Mural Project Founder Avi GitlerWatch September ’20 Live Stream 
March  2020 Black & Yellow WarblerMagnolia WarblerBirder and Photographer Don Reimer Watch March ’20 Live Stream 
February 2020 Blue-green WarblerCerulean WarblerSylvia Bosco, Bowdoin Class of 2021 N/A
December 2019Azure WarblerCerulean WarblerJeff Wells, Boreal Song Bird Initiative at the National Audubon Society Watch December ’19 Live Stream 
November 2019Ruby-throated Humming BirdRuby-throated Hummingbird Lauren Fitzgerald, Bowdoin Class of 2000Watch November ’19 Live Stream 
October 2019Barred OwlBarred OwlKatie Galletta, Bowdoin Class of  2021 Watch October ’19 Live Stream 
September 2019Traill’s FlycatcherWillow FlycatcherMatthew Stuart, Professor of PhilosophyWatch September ’19 Live Stream 
July 2019  Summer Red BirdSummer TanagerSC&A StaffWatch July ’19 Page-Turning, Part 2
July 2019  Cedar BirdCedar WaxwingBirder Ian Carlsen Watch July ’19 Live Stream, Part 1 
June 2019Orchard OrioleOrchard OrioleSC&A StaffWatch June ’19 Live Stream 
May 2019Ruffed GrouseRuffed Grouse Author and Naturalist Susan Hand ShetterlyWatch May ’19 Live Stream 
April 2019American RedstartAmerican RedstartShana Stewart Deeds,
Laboratory Instructor in Biology and Environmental Studies		Watch April ’19 Live Stream 
March 2019Crested TitmouseTufted Titmouse James O’Shea, Bowdoin Class of  2020Watch March ’19 Live Stream 
February 2019Kentucky WarblerKentucky WarblerBrendan Murtha, Bowdoin Class of  2021 Watch February ’19 Live Stream 
January 2019Gold-winged WoodpeckerNorthern FlickerBook artist Rebecca Goodale Watch January ’19 Live Stream 
December  2018Stanley Hawk Cooper’s HawkSeth Benz, Director of Bird Ecology Program, Schoodic Insitute, Acadia National Park Watch December ’18 Live Stream 
November 2018Children’s WarblerYellow WarblerMichael Boardman, artist and naturalist  Watch November ’18 Live Stream 
October 2018Worm eating warblerWork-eating WarblerHavana Coso-Desumet, Bowdoin Class of 2020Watch October ’18 Live Stream 
September 2018American GoldfinchAmerican GoldfinchColin Windhorst,  Dennysville Historical SocietyWatch September ’18 Live Stream 
August  2018Black-billed CuckooBlack-billed CuckooSC&A StaffWatch August ’18 Live Stream 
July 2018 White-headed EagleBald Eagle SC&A StaffWatch July ’18 Live Stream 
June 2018Vigor’s WarblerPine WarblerCraig Hupper, Class of 1983, and grandson of Birds of America donor Roscoe H. HupperWatch June ’18 Live Stream 
May 2018 Towhe Bunting Eastern TowheePatty Jones, Assistant Professor of Biology and Director of the Bowdoin College Scientific Station on Kent IslandWatch May ’18 Live Stream 
April 2018Solitary Flycatcher or VireoBlue-headed VireoBiologist Derek Lovitch, owner of Wild Bird Supply in Freeport, Maine Watch April ’18 Live Stream, Part 1
April 2018Solitary Flycatcher or VireoBlue-headed VireoBiologist Derek Lovitch, owner of Wild Bird Supply in Freeport, Maine Watch April ’18 Live Stream, Part 2 
March 2018Red-headed WoodpeckerRed-headed WoodpeckerNoah Perlut, A ssociate Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of New England N/A
February  2018Carolina ParrotCarolina Parakeet Margaret & Fritz Buschmann, Siesta Sanctuary, Assisted Living for Retired Parrots Watch February ’18 Live Stream 
January 2018Song SparrowSong SparrowMelissa Cullina, Director of Botanical Research and Herbarium at Coastal Maine Botanical GardensWatch January ’18 Live Stream, Part 1
January 2018Song SparrowSong SparrowMelissa Cullina, Director of Botanical Research and Herbarium at Coastal Maine Botanical GardensWatch January ’18 Live Stream, Part 2
January 2018Song SparrowSong SparrowMelissa Cullina, Director of Botanical Research and Herbarium at Coastal Maine Botanical GardensWatch January ’18 Live Stream, Part 3
December 2017Louisiana Yellow ThroatCommon YellowthroatDon Deerborn, Bates College Professor of BiologyWatch December ’17 Live Stream 
November 2017Maryland Yellow ThroatCommon YellowthroatKristen Lindquist, Poet and Naturalist Watch November ’17 Live Stream
October 2017Purple MartinPurple Martin SC&A StaffWatch October ’17 Live Stream 
September 2017 Mocking birdNorthern mockingbirdDoug Hitchcox, Staff Naturalist at Maine Audubon Watch September ’17 Live Stream 
August 2017Blue winged yellow warblerBlue-winged warbler SC&A StaffWatch August ’17 Live Stream 
July 2017Louisiana WaterthrushLouisiana Water ThrushSC&A Staff Watch July ’17 Live Stream 
June 2017Bewick’s WrenBewick’s WrenSC&A StaffWatch June ’17 Live Stream 
May 2017Carolina PigeonMourning DoveSusan Wegner, Associate Professor of Art History Watch May ’17 Live Stream 
April 2017Great-footed HawkPeregrine FalconMatt Klingle, Associate Professor of History and Environmental Studies Watch April ’17 Live Stream
March  2017Blue Yellow Back WarblerNorthern ParulaPeter Logan, Bowdoin Class of 1975 and author of Audubon in LabradorWatch March ’17 Live Stream, Part 1
March  2017Blue Yellow Back WarblerNorthern ParulaPeter Logan, Bowdoin Class of 1975 and author of Audubon in LabradorWatch March ’17 Live Stream, Part 2 
February  2017Prairie WarblerPrairie WarblerBirder Thomas Hayward & Botanist Susan HaywardWatch February ’17 Live  Stream 
January 2017Snow BirdDark-eyed JuncoSC&A Staff Watch January ’17 Live Stream
December 2016Baltimore OrioleBaltimore OrioleEcologist Justin Schuetz, Bowdoin Class of 1994 Watch December ’16 Live Stream
November 2016Bird of WashingtonBald Eagle SC&A Staff Watch November ’16 Live Stream
October 2016Brown LarkAmerican PipitSC&A Staff Watch October ’16 Live Stream
September 2016Selby’s Fly catcherHooded warblerNat Wheelwright, Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Natural Sciences in the Department of Biology at Bowdoin CollegeN/A
August 2016White throated SparrowWhite throated SparrowSC&A Staff N/A
July 2016Purple Grakle, or Common Crow BlackbirdCommon GrakleSC&A Staff Watch July ’16 Live Stream 
June 2016Great American Hen & YoungWild TurkeySC&A Staff Watch June ’16 Live Stream 
May 2016Bonaparte’s FlycatcherCanada WarblerSC&A StaffWatch May ’16 Live Stream 
April 2016Purple FinchPurple FinchSC&A Staff N/A
March 2016Prothonotary WarblerProthonotary WarblerSC&A StaffN/A
February 2016Yellow-billed CuckooYellow-billed CuckooSC&A StaffN/A
January 2016Wild TurkeyWild TurkeySC&A StaffN/A