When I had hardly learned to walk and to articulate those first words always so endearing to parents, the productions of Nature that lay spread all around were constantly pointed out to me... My father generally accompanied my steps, procured birds and flowers for me, and pointed out the elegant movements of the former, the beauty and softness of their plumage, the manifestations of their pleasure, or their sense of danger, and the always perfect forms and splendid attire of the latter. He would speak of the departure and return of the birds with the season, describe their haunts, and , more wonderful than all, their change of livery, thus exciting me to study them, and to raise my mind towards their great Creator. - John James Audubon