Danny Heitman, author of the book A Summer of Birds: John James Audubon at Oakley House (LSU Press, 2008), will speak in Hill Memorial Library on Sunday, January 11 at 3:00 pm. This free talk is sponsored by the LSU Libraries, in conjunction with the exhibition "Audubon at Oakley: Louisiana Selections from Birds of America," which is on display in Hill Library through February 28. A Summer of Birds is the second book to appear in the LSU Press's new series, the Hill Collection: Holdings of the LSU Libraries.

Audubon worked on paintings of at least twenty-three birds while at Oakley and an additional sixteen bird paintings are linked to his stay at Oakley House. All thirty-nine are shown in this exhibition, which is free and open to the public. Other treasures on display include an original drawing made by Audubon and used in the creation of the octavo edition of the Birds, as well as the manuscripts in Audubon's hand for two passages, "Bear Killing" and "The Hurricane," from his Ornithological Biography (Philadelphia and Edinburgh, 1831-1839).

Based on careful and extensive research, Heitman's A Summer of Birds is an extended meditation on Audubon's experiences at Oakley, providing a wide-ranging view of Audubon's life and work. On Sunday, Heitman will be talking about Audubon's wonderful birds, and why they are so much a part of Louisiana history and culture.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase. A reception, book signing, and time for viewing the exhibition will follow the talk. For more information, please call 225-578-6552.