Birds have provided inspiration to artists for thousands of years. And like any other kind of art, bird art may be created for myriad reasons and appreciated in a million ways. But more than most genres, bird art often winds up having practical results in two specific areas: it plays a major role in public education, and it provides support for wildlife conservation. Kenn Kaufman, author of the cult-classic Kingbird Highway, naturalist, artist, and originator and editor of the Kaufman Field Guides series, will discuss the surprising ways that the role of bird art has evolved over the last two centuries and will share why he believes bird art is more essential today than ever.