The First Audubon Society

Audubon often wrote of the plight of certain birds, such as the Passenger Pigeon, and the Carolina Parakeet.  During his lifetime, he observed the encroachment of man on the habitat of the wild.

After his death, his wife, Lucy Bakewell Audubon, showed incredible strength in the face of her own difficult circumstances.  In order to support herself and her remaining family, she sold Audubon's original watercolors to the New-York Historical Society for $4,000.  Further, she began a school at Minnie's Land, the home Audubon had purchased for the family.  The home no longer exists today, but if you are ever on 155th street in Manhattan, you are right in the middle of the original 35 acre estate.

But a seed was planted at Minnie's Land, planted in the mind of one of Lucy Bakewell Audubon's students.  George Bird Grinnell had been influenced by the Life of John James Audubon, readily seen through Audubon's belongings, art, and no doubt, stories constantly retold at Minnie's Land.

George Bird Grinnell was taught well, and later became editor of Forest and Stream magazine.  In 1886, alarmed by continued slaughter of birds, he called upon his readers to form an organization to put an end to it.  He gave this organization the name "The Audubon Society."  

Too many people joined, and Grinnell was unable to manage such a large swell of interest, and his organization was disbanded.