Up in Central Park: Birds and Birders (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1997 April 1 - 1997 August 14

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened April 1, 1997 and closed August 14, 1997. Located in Section 1A, Floor 1 in Gallery 77 at the American Museum of Natural History. Up in Central Park was an exhibition about birds and birders and featured 40 bird specimens mounted in mini-diorama-like modules.

Summary

Up in Central Park illustrated how Central Park serves as a headquarters for birds and birders. It was curated by Margaret Cooper of the Museum's Department of Exhibition and Mary LeCroy of the Museum's Department of Ornithology. The exhibition explored four themes: conspicuous birds such as ducks, starlings, sparrows, and cardinal; rare sightings requiring binoculars or telescopes for birds such as owls, tanagers, and warblers; the Park as a stop on two bird migration routes; and habitat preservation which examined how birds, other animals, and humans can coexist in the Park. The exhibition was designed with abstract forms to suggest trees and park-style benches were provided for visitors. When the exhibition opened it filled all of Gallery 77, but in mid-May 1997, it was compacted into a smaller area to accommodate the entrance to a special exhibition housed in the Hall of Ocean Life (1; 2).

Highlights (1):

*40 bird specimens mounted in mini-diorama-like modules

*Color photographs of birds to supplement the mounts

*Labels that identified and described local and migrant birds in various stages of seasonal plumage

*Photographs of birders in Central Park with an exhibit of period and contemporary birding equipment such as binoculars and cameras

*Film by French filmmaker Frederic Lilien about Central Park housed in a recreated Park gazebo, which featured a red-tailed hawk

*Bird call quiz with calls played over speakers and adjacent flip labels identifying each bird

*Paintings of birds that can be seen in Central Park by John James Audubon, on loan from the New-York Historical Society

This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.

Sources

(1) Giusti, Ellen. “Up in Central Park: From the Visitor’s View.” May 1997. Special Collections Vertical Files. American Museum of Natural History Library.

(2) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. “Up in Central Park: Birds and Birders Opens at the American Museum of Natural History April 4 – August 14, 1997.” March 1997. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Gallery 77.
Location of exhibition 1997 April 1 – 1997 August 14 (1)

Audubon, John James 1785-1851
Artist, bird paintings on loan New-York Historical Society (2)

Cooper, Peggy
Curator of exhibition; Museum Department of Exhibition

LeCroy, Mary
Curator of exhibition; Museum Department of Ornithology

Lilien, Frederic
French filmmaker; created film shown in exhibition (2)

New-York Historical Society
Loaned paintings by John James Audubon for exhibition (2)

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History photographic drawers
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [Black and white photo of objects in exhibition]

American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s
“Up in Central Park: Birds and Birders Opens at the American Museum of Natural History April 4 – August 14, 1997.” March 1997.

American Museum of Natural History vertical files
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [report “Up in Central Park: From the Visitor’s View” by Ellen Giusti (May 1997]

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