Georgia conservation group drops 'Audubon,' changing name to Birds Georgia

The conservation group, Georgia Audubon, is changing its name to Birds Georgia, following a reckoning over the legacy of the man the group was named for.

John James Audubon was a 19th century wildlife artist most known for his seminal work, “The Birds of America,” a collection of more than 400 colorful paintings. “His contributions to ornithology, art, and culture are enormous,” according to the National Audubon Society.

But there is a big “but” in the second half of that sentence: “but he was a complex and troubling character who did despicable things even by the standards of his day,” the group continues.