Museum gives inside look at native birds of North America

A new exhibit at the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) shows the work of notable avian artists who documented the birds of North America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Avis Marvelous: Ornithology on the Western Frontier, 1776-1897 is on view at SBCM now through May 11.

Curated by Lee Stillman, the exhibit features more than 50 colorful engravings of birds paired with historical context on their documentation by explorers and artists of the era featuring a variety of birds ranging from the Columbia Magpie Jay to the Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Mountain Bluebird.

As nineteenth century reproduction technology improved, avian art became widespread, and some artists became household names. John James Audubon, a contributor of the paintings, said, “I know that I am no scholar, but meantime I am aware that no man living knows better than I do the habits of our birds; no man living has studied them as much as I have done.”

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and museum members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.