Presenter:  DeVere Burt

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

Burt will tell the story of the personalities and events that led an imperfect man to create one of the greatest publications in the history of the natural sciences. Audubon’s masterpiece “Birds of America” reflected his genius as an artist. His attendant five volume “Ornithological Biographies” contained his field notes and anecdotes, and scientific observations about every species included in the elephant folio. Accompanying his success with the publication were charges that he was a plagiarist, a liar, created fraudulent science, sensationalized his species accounts, and so on. Throughout his life he was at war with the scientific establishment.  

DeVere Burt, Director Emeritus, Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Science, has degrees in Wildlife Biology, and Animal Ecology.  His research focused on marsh nesting passerines and the reproductive biology of Adelie penguins. He was a biological illustrator for Iowa State University, Chicago’s Field Museum, and the United States Naval Medical research Unit in Cairo Egypt. He was a Regional Director for the Nature Conservancy As President and CEO, he led the 200 year old CMNH to its new home in Cincinnati’s art deco masterpiece, Union Terminal. (Cincinnati Museum Center).

Burt retired from CMNH in 1996, opened Hawkeye Studio and began studying the life and times of John James Audubon. The result was Burt's 56 painting portfolio inspired by Audubon’s life. The exhibit toured for five years, and some examples of it will be displayed with the program.