The University Library System's annual Audubon Day on Nov. 21 will feature a talk by naturalist Kenn Kaufman on “Audubon, Wilson, and the Race to Describe the Birds of America.”

The day is a celebration of John James Audubon’s “Birds of America.” Pitt is home to one of the rare full copies of Audubon’s richly colored double-elephant folio prints of the “Birds of America.” Only 120 complete sets are known to exist. 

Many of the prints will be on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Archives & Special Collections Reading Room, 320 Hillman Library

Kaufmann, author of “The Birds That Audubon Missed,” will speak from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Archives & Special Collections Instruction Room, 340 Hillman Library. He’ll discuss the historic rivalry with Alexander Wilson that helped to shape Audubon's “Birds of America.”

When Audubon set out to compile “Birds of America,” Wilson was already regarded as the ultimate expert on our birds, based on his nine-volume “American Ornithology.” To make a name for himself, Audubon would have to outdo Wilson in every way. In this presentation, Kaufman will describe Audubon's drive to find as many birds as possible, to discover new species, and to produce one of the great natural history works of all time.

Be sure to check out the Open Lab (1st Floor) and Text & conText Lab (3rd Floor) for other bird-related hands-on fun.