Name: Kenn Kaufman, “The Birds that Audubon Missed: Louisiana Edition”
Start: 2026-01-24T17:30:00-06:00
End: 2026-01-24T20:30:00-06:00
Location: Louisiana State University, Shreveport, University Center Theatre

$Kenn Kaufman, \u201cThe Birds that Audubon Missed: Louisiana Edition\u201d$

Kenn Kaufman speaks about Audubon's efforts in the early 19th century to find the last few bird species that were still unknown to science.
About this Event

The Louisiana Ornithological Society and the LSU Shreveport College of Arts and Sciences present renowned author, artist, naturalist, and conservationist Kenn Kaufman for a closer look at John James Audubon’s life and work, including his time spent studying the birds of Louisiana.

Inspired by his new book The Birds That Audubon Missed, Kaufman will examine the artistic work, competition, and scientific discoveries of Audubon and his ornithological peers, as well as some of the discoveries they didn’t make.

Book signing from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Presentation in the University Center Theater at 7:00 pm.

Two centuries ago, a handful of European-American naturalists trekked around eastern North America, competing to find the last few bird species that were still unknown to science. What was that experience like for them? When Kenn Kaufman delved into that period in ornithological history, as research for his newest book, he found surprising parallels to birding in our own time. And for John James Audubon, the best-known name of that era, time spent in Louisiana was essential to his success. In this program, Kenn will celebrate discovery and rediscovery, the lure of the unknown, and the endless power of birds to delight and amaze us.

Kenn Kaufman burst onto the birding scene as a teenager in the 1970s, hitch-hiking all over North America in pursuit of birds, an adventure later chronicled in his cult-classic book, Kingbird Highway. After several years as a professional bird tour leader, he transitioned to a career as a writer, editor, and illustrator. Most of his energy currently goes into book projects and painting bird portraits. His 14 books include his latest, The Birds that Audubon Missed, published in May 2024. Kenn is a field editor for The National Audubon Society, a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society, and the only person to have received the American Birding Association’s lifetime achievement award twice.