John James Audubon and the Birds of America

Dates: January 22 - February 26, 2026
Meets: Th from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
 Location: Osher Online
Cost:  $75.00

There are still openings remaining at this time.

Date Day Time
01/22/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM
01/29/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM
02/05/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM
02/12/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM
02/19/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM
02/26/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM

Please note: This course program requires membership in a 2025-2026 OLLI at MSU Membership

Description

This program will not be recorded.

John James Audubon was a French American artist and naturalist who, beginning in the 1820s, set out to document every bird species in the U.S. The result was The Birds of America, a collection of 435 hand-painted bird prints widely regarded as one of the finest books ever published. This course explores Audubon's early life, artistic techniques and the scientific and aesthetic value of his work. We will take a closer look at selected prints and examine the intersection of art and science in Audubon's process. We will have a thoughtful discussion of his legacy and his role in shaping the American understanding of nature and wildlife.

About the Osher Online Program

Osher Online programs are provided to OLLI at MSU from the Osher National Resource Center at Northwestern University. Experience shared online presentations with OLLI members from coast to coast! As part of the Osher Online program, OLLI at MSU members will enjoy national speakers and interact with fellow OLLI members nationwide.

Scholarship

Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.

Meet the Instructor

Fee:  $75.00

Osher Online

This is a real-time (live) online class that meets at the specified day(s)/time(s) listed.

Eric Simon

Eric Simon, Ph.D., is a professor of biology at New England College and holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Harvard University. An avid traveler and award-winning nature photographer, he leads educational trips to destinations such as Belize, the Galapagos, Tanzania, Cuba, the Amazon River and Patagonia. Simon is also the author of a best-selling series of college biology textbooks, used in over 40 countries, with more than 2 million copies in print.
Date Day Time Location
01/22/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM Osher Online
01/29/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM Osher Online
02/05/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM Osher Online
02/12/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM Osher Online
02/19/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM Osher Online
02/26/2026Thursday9 AM to 10:30 AM Osher Online