A major new exhibition at Bodleian Libraries will invite visitors to explore humanity’s enduring relationship with birds through themes of wonder, creativity and environmental change.
Wonder of Birds, opening on 02 May 2026 and running until 03 January 2027 at the Weston Library, brings together art, literature, science and sound to examine both the beauty of birds and the challenges they face.
Inspired by The Book of Birds by award-winning writer Robert Macfarlane and illustrator Jackie Morris, the exhibition combines original artwork and prose with items from the Bodleian’s collections.
Curated by Antonia Harrison, the exhibition is structured around ‘Seven Wonders’ – nest, egg, beak, song, feather, flight and migration – offering a multi-sensory exploration of avian life. Visitors will encounter rare archival material, illustration and photography, alongside an original soundscape by sound artist Jason Singh.
Among the highlights are previously unseen glass plate negatives by pioneering wildlife photographer Emma Louisa Turner, as well as early works by Richard Kearton and Cherry Kearton.
The exhibition also features life-size illustrations from Birds of America by James Audubon, a landmark publication documenting North American bird species, some of which are now extinct.
Historical artefacts include the wartime birdwatching diary of John Buxton, written during his imprisonment in the Second World War, and a rare Great Auk egg on loan from Oxford University Museum of Natural History – a poignant reminder of species loss.
The exhibition also explores birds in cultural expression, featuring works such as Caged Bird by Maya Angelou and annotations from Percy Bysshe Shelley for To a Skylark. Global perspectives include manuscripts such as The Book of the Fixed Stars by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi and The Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar, alongside the Codex Mendoza.
A newly commissioned installation by artist duo Daniel & Clara further invites visitors to imagine the world of birds beyond the gallery space.
Antonia Harrison said:
“Why do we wonder at birds? Whether it’s the sense of freedom in flight, the fragility of an egg, the preciousness of new life or the marking of our days with song, there is so much to wonder and to celebrate.
“As well as an invitation to look and wonder, this exhibition is also a call to attention for species decline, an opportunity to reflect on how we co-exist with the world of birds – recognising our home is also their home.”
Richard Ovenden added:
“Through the Wonder of Birds, we invite visitors to re-examine our connection with the avian world. Drawing on the Bodleian Libraries’ extensive collections, the exhibition spans the mythical to the scientific, from the earliest known depictions to cutting-edge research.
“I hope visitors leave with a sense of the vast majesty of birds and a renewed commitment to safeguarding their future.”
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