Birds at Google

A doodle on the Google homepage Tuesday celebrates the 226th birthday of bird enthusiast John James Audubon.

The image features various species of birds perched on branches that spell out the Google name.

Audubon was born in 1785 in Saint Domingue, now Haiti. He was raised by his stepmother and was interested in birds, nature, and the arts from an early age. By 18, he was sent to the family-owned Mill Grove estate near Philadelphia to avoid being drafted into Napoleon's army, according to the Audubon Society.

While at Mill Grove, Audubon conducted his first bird experiment; he tied string to the legs of birds, which helped him discover that they returned to the same nesting sites each year. It was there that he also met his wife, Lucy Bakewell. With Lucy and his two sons, Audubon traveled the country for more than a decade, but he fell on hard times and was briefly jailed for bankruptcy in 1819.
Audobon Google Doodle


It was then that he focused his attention on birds, floating down the Mississippi and creating a collection of bird portraits. In 1826, he sailed to England to present his work, dubbed "The American Woodsman." According to the Audubon Society, the book was an overnight success, and it was printed in Edinburgh and London. The popularity of the collection allowed him to collaborate with Scottish ornithologist William MacGillivray on the Ornithological Biographies, which were detailed life histories of each of the species in the work.

The final print was published in 1883, and Audubon settled in New York City, where he died in 1851 at the age of 65.

"Audubon's story is one of triumph over adversity; his accomplishment is destined for the ages. He encapsulates the spirit of young America, when the wilderness was limitless and beguiling," according to the Audubon Society.
Audubon, however, was not actually involved in the society that bears his name. One of the founders, George Bird Grinnell, was tutored by Audubon's widow Lucy and named the group in his honor.

Google has made headlines for its recent doodles, meanwhile, including an interactive undersea-themed drawing in honor of author Jules Verne's 183rd birthday and 17 holiday-themed doodles that were live for two days in December.

Recently, it was revealed that Google obtained a patent for its popular homepage doodles, covering "systems and methods for enticing users to access a Web site."

For more on Google's doodles, see the slideshow below.

Source : pcmag