One Tank Trip: John James Audubon Center
One of our birding pioneers started nurturing nature at an early age. And John James Audubon further developed that love of his surroundings in Pennsylvania. WFMZ's Karin Mallett takes us to his home in tonight's One Tank Trip to John James Audubon's first home in the United States. >> REPORTER: It's a quiet space where what was here before is revered and immortalized in illustrations. >> STEVE SAFFIER: I feel very fortunate to walk the trails and some of the grounds that John James Audubon walked as a young man. It's pretty amazing.
>> REPORTER: When he was 18.. artist and naturalist John James Audubon arrived in America from France, living in this picturesque 14 room mansion on family land in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Situated on 175 acres, it's here he began exploring the woods.. fascinated with it's wonders.. sketching and studying what he saw.
>> SAFFIER: I guess there's something spiritual about the place that brings in the birds.
>> REPORTER: We're here on the back porch of the home and this is perhaps one of the views that inspired him the most. Take a look.. on the right you have the Perkiomen Creek with the water birds, then there's songbirds in the meadow and then all the way up in the cliffs are some raptors.
>> REPORTER: Audubon was only here at Mill Grove for three years, but the property remains his first home in America and the only one still standing. The home and grounds now open to the public.
>> SUSIE CONARD: I think he'd be shocked and amazed at how serious it has all become, yeah, really pleased.
>> REPORTER: Three birds of prey are full time residents here.. meet Sitting Bull and Ben Franklin. In captivity, we see the beauty up close.. But binoculars are a'plenty.. birding is a popular pasttime here. It takes patience but when you least expect it.. you'll find what you're looking for.. Just through the trees.. on a buoy in the creek.. sits a double breasted cormorant. Keeping my eyes open on a One Tank Trip to the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove.. Karin Mallett 69 News Berks Edition.
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