Name: Thoreau and the Birds of Concord
Start: 2025-04-04T19:45:00-04:00
Location: Peabody Essex Museum

Friday, April 4, 2025 from 7:45—9 pm
In-person event
Location: Morse Auditorium
Free
Register here: https://www.pem.org/events/thoreau-and-the-birds-of-concord
This event is co-hosted by the Essex County Ornithological Club. A brief meeting of the club will be held from 7:30–7:45 pm. All are welcome to attend!
This program is made possible by The Echo Charitable Foundation.
Join us to hear author/editor Geoff Wisner and artist/naturalist Barry Van Dusen speaking about their recent book A Year of Birds: Writings on Birds from the Journal of Henry David Thoreau (2024). Learn about this innovative volume: the first collection of Thoreau’s writings on birds to be arranged by the day of the year, emphasizing the relationship of local birds with their environment and exploring the spiritual significance of the seasons. The book features 150 watercolors and field sketches by Van Dusen as well as a foreword by celebrated naturalist Peter Alden. Hear from Wisner and Van Dusen about their collaboration that blends art, literature and natural history.
A book signing will follow the program.
A temporary installation of Van Dusen’s original watercolors and field sketches will be on view outside the auditorium, including select works featured in the book.
ABOVE IMAGE: Wood duck painting by Barry Van Dusen. Image courtesy of the artist.
About the Collaborators:
Geoff Wisner
Geoff Wisner is an author, editor, and book reviewer based in New York City. A board member of the Thoreau Society, his books include Thoreau's Wildflowers, Thoreau's Animals and A Year of Birds: Writings on Birds in the Journal of Henry David Thoreau. He is currently editing a volume of the Civil War diaries of George Templeton Strong for the Library of America. He earned a degree in English and American Literature from Harvard University and has written for the Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor and The Wall Street Journal.
Barry Van Dusen
Barry Van Dusen is an internationally recognized wildlife artist living in central Massachusetts who is known for working directly from life, even when sketching difficult subjects like wild birds. His articles and paintings have been featured in Bird Watcher's Digest, Birding and Yankee magazines and he has illustrated a variety of natural history books, including A Year of Birds and several pocket guides. He is also author of Finding Sanctuary, in which he describes and illustrates 61 of Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries, nature centers and museums.