Inaugural John James Audubon International Symposium

April 1 & 2, 2022*

St. Francisville, Louisiana

History was made on June 18, 1821, when John James Audubon disembarked the Columbia Steamboat and walked to the James Pirrie farm, Oakley. Audubon was mesmerized by the hilly, bluffed terrain of the countryside and astonished by the large, variety of birds that flew in and out of the trees. This short walk spurred Audubon to restart his work on his Birds of America portfolio. 

This year marks the bicentennial anniversary of John James Audubon’s life and work in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. As part of the celebration, the Friends of West Feliciana Tourism are hosting the first John James Audubon International Symposium, April 1 & 2, 2022. This will be the only annual symposium dedicated to the life and work of John James Audubon.

*Originally scheduled for September 17-18, 2021 and rescheduled due to Covid-19. New dates are Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, 2022.

Symposium Program

NOTE: FRIDAY, APRIL 1 BIRDING & HISTORIC TOURS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!

• Birding and Historic Tours

Friday, April 1

Audubon Historic Site

11788 LA-965, St. Francisville, LA

7 am–3:30 pm

$50 per person

Ornithologists will guide participants in the woods that John James Audubon actually sketched and from where he collected bird specimens for his Birds of America portfolio.  

7:00 a.m. – Registration at Audubon Historic Site

8:00 a.m. - Bird tour #1: Audubon Historic Site

Birding tour led by Seth Blitch

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. – Tour of Oakley House 

11:00 a.m. - Bird tour #2: MaryAnn Brown Nature Preserve

13515 LA-965, St Francisville, LA 70775

Birding tour led by Seth Blitch

(note that guests will depart the Audubon State Historic Site and travel about 3.5 miles on LA 965 to the MaryAnn Brown Nature Preserve)

*Lunch on your own*

1:00 pm–3:00 pm Historic tours:

1 p.m. Catalpa Plantation

(about an hour for tour & birding on the grounds)

2:15 to 2:30 p.m. - arrive Beechwood Cemetery 

3:30 - 3:45 p.m. - depart Beechwood

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for complete speaker bios & program details, see www.AudubonCountry.com

John James Audubon International Symposium

Saturday, April 2

Jackson Hall, Grace Episcopal Church

11621 Ferdinand Street - St. Francisville, LA

8 am – 2:30 pm

$60 per person (includes lunch)

8:00 a.m. – Registration 

Coffee & Light Refreshments to be Served

9:00 a.m. – Welcome and Introductions

Randy Harelson, Moderator

9:30 a.m. – John Miles

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10:15 a.m. – Break

10:30 a.m. - Keynote Speaker - Danny Heitman

11:15 a.m. – Lunch at Jackson Hall

Meet the Speakers & Book Signing

12:30 – Randy Harelson

1:15 p.m. - Break

1:30 p.m. - Speaker Panel: Discussion, Questions and Answers

John Miles, Danny Heitman, and Randy Harelson

2:15 p.m. - Closing Remarks

4 to 7 p.m. - Audubon Under the Oaks Gala at Oakley