Exhibit features work of the nation's founding ornithologist

Wilson's illustration of the Orchard Oriole 

If you're looking for a summertime day trip that will expand your knowledge of the science of birding, consider visiting the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, which is featuring the work of Alexander Wilson, a pioneer in the study of ornithology.

The first serious study of American birds was begun by this Scottish immigrant who settled in Philadelphia in the 1790s. He contributed an enormous wealth of information to the early study of the science of bird life.

Though not as well known as John James Audubon, Wilson had a great impact on the course of ornithology in the United States. Wilson took ornithology beyond simple descriptions of specimens. A fastidious observer of bird behavior, he described in great detail how birds interacted with their environment.

His nine-volume American Ornithology, published over a 10-year period from 1803 to 1813, was the first important document of its kind—and also the first major scientific study of natural history in the young United States. For instance, he was the pioneer in the Americas on the science of population estimates of species. He applied that study initially to counting a huge flock of Passenger Pigeons, which at the time were among the most abundant bird species in North America.

Alexander Wilson

His work pre-dated Audubon's and set the stage for successive generations of ornithological studies, leading to modern-day guides such as those by Sibley and Peterson.

Wilson traveled widely for his research, visiting all 15 states and four territories of the new United States in a trip lasting 12,000 miles. Keep in mind, this was in a day when common folk treated traveling to the county seat as a trek. And by comparison, the famed Lewis and Clark expedition traveled about 8,000 miles. 

During his trips, Wilson discovered 26 bird species including the elusive Wilson's snipe and other species such as Wilson's Warbler, Wilson's Phalarope and Wilson's Petrel. He wrote 314 species accounts and provided illustrations for many. He was a self-taught illustrator.

Much of his voluminous American Ornithology was self-financed. When he wasn't studying birds, he had to solicit contributions and sell his books. Working day and night may have contributed to his untimely death at age 47.

Wilson's Snipe

The Wilson exhibit, "A Fondness for Birds," runs through March 15, 2015, and is part of the general admission to the museum. The State Library of Pennsylvania has loaned the original and recently conserved set of the American Ornithology volumes for the exhibit. Situated next to the State Capitol Building, the museum is located at 300 North Street in Harrisburg. The museum doesn't have its own dedicated parking facility, but there are several city parking garages within a three-block radius of the museum. For more information, call the museum at 717-787-3980 or visit its website at www.statemuseumpa.org.