At the start of the 19th century, John James Audubon embarked upon an epic ornithological quest across America with nothing but his artist's materials, an assistant and a gun. Driving him on through terrible storms, encounters with ferocious bears and dangerous people, Audubon's all-consuming passion for birds came to define his entire life - but what would the world make of his expressive and distinctly unscientific illustrations upon return?

"John James Audubon's passion for birds inspired a national movement to protect birds and their habitats. As a child, John would often skip school to roam the countryside. He collected bird nests, unique stones, bits of moss, and other items of interest and developed his talent for creating dramatic bird portraits and skills for observing them in the wild. Using his abilities as an acute observer, skilled writer, and exceptional artist, Audubon wrote...

Naturalist and nineteenth century painter, John James Audubon was one of the most remarkable men of early America. The program brings to life his timeless paintings with dazzling footage of the living birds he immortalized, and celebrates visually the natural world he described in his writings. Interviews reveal the man, explore his art, and put his groundbreaking work in modern perspective.