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J. J. Audubon: Where Do Birds Sleep

June 14, 2008 · 5 Comments

Where do birds sleep?

To Audubon

Dear Mr. Audubon,

Whay is the robin called “Turdus Migratorius?” Turdus doesn’t sound very nice. And where do they sleep? Do they sleep in nests or just sitting on a branch int he tree? How do they not fall off? Probably the same way we don’t fall off our beds. Or do they sleep on the ground? If they fall out of the tree while they’re asleep do they fly in their sleep?

Love,

Jana

Categories: Audubon · birds · ink and watercolor wash · postcard · robins · sleep · watercolor
Tagged: , , , , , ,

5 responses so far ↓

  • Answer from Audubon « Postcard a Day // June 16, 2008 at 7:07 am

    [...] About: Postcard a Day Project ← J. J. Audubon: Where Do Birds Sleep [...]

  • petescully // June 16, 2008 at 7:10 am

    yes, this is great stuff! a great idea.
    robins here are different to robins in england.

    Yours don’t sleep in teensy beds? Poor things. ~ Jana

  • lindsy // June 16, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Jana, this is a wonderful idea and I ‘m signed up to follow along. I LOVE the creativity and whimsey of your project.

    Thanks Lindsay. I think I love whimsy best of all. ~Jana

  • Gwendolyn // June 16, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Dear Mme Bouc and M Audubon-

    I had the impression — wrong, perhaps — that Turdus migratorius, a THRUSH and not a ROBIN, really, got that name from the Latin for Thrush.

    Apparently our song thrush, Turdus turdus, is the ultimate thrush, and very lovely it is in both song and appearance, although very shy & hard to see.

    So that is why our American Robin has such a lovely song!

    Well, though I hate to question the esteemed M Audubon, I checked my Sibley Field Guide to Western Birds and it lists American Robin under Thrushes, right along with many other thrushes. So Turdus it is! ~Jana

  • Nancy // June 18, 2008 at 7:34 am

    What a good idea! Will you be able to find 500 great correspondents? It looks like great fun so far. And I found out what ‘turdus’ means, too.

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