Today's documentaries about our planet merge art and science. Series such as Planet Earth by the Discovery Channel takes us to parts of the planet most would never be able to reach. While the material is educational and interesting, the quality of the work is groundbreaking. High-definition cameras can take us into the depths of the oceans, dense rainforests, wild deserts and much more. Before such technology existed, there were people just as passionate about learning about our earth and re-creating it for the masses.

One such person is John Audubon, best known for his intricate bird illustrations. Not only did he create revered works of art, he helped modernize ornithology -- the scientific field of bird study. In his journey to document America's bird species, he discovered 25 new species of birds and 12 subgroups.

After immigrating from France to America, he experienced numerous failed business attempts. He was even put in debtor's prison. During that time, he made money as a portrait artist.

Audubon's success came when he combined two of his favorite hobbies -- science and art. Since childhood, Audubon loved studying wildlife, especially birds. He went so far as to conduct his own experiments and even made important findings within the scientific community. He is credited as the first person to "band" birds, which is placing a small identifiable band on a bird's leg to study migration. Audubon attached yarn to birds' legs to prove that they returned to the same nesting place year after year.

Aside from his scientific discoveries, Audubon changed the art world's depiction of wildlife. He developed his own methods of drawing birds and re-created the subjects as they would appear in the wild -- usually on the hunt or feeding. He was able to successfully do this because of his extensive field notes and careful scientific study of each bird that he drew. Before Audubon, all ornithological portraits presented birds in a rigid pose with a plain background. He strove to create artistic and scientifically accurate paintings.

In 1826, Audubon sailed to England with a portfolio of his work. He received great acceptance as he toured England and Scotland, and was praised as "the American woodsman." His European fans greatly enjoyed his images of America and its natural attractions. This allowed him to raise enough money to begin publishing The Birds of America.

This vast work consists of 435 hand-colored, life-size prints of 497 different species. It includes images of six now-extinct birds. Audubon's great work took more than 14 years of field observations and drawings to create.

He received worldwide recognition after the book was published including being elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1905, the National Audubon Society was incorporated and named in his honor. Its mission: to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds. A copy of The Birds of America was sold at auction for $11.5 million in 2010 -- a record price for a book.

Audubon's love of art and science brought him great success. He changed two fields of study and, much like documentaries today, he allowed people to travel America's frontier and learn about the amazing wildlife that inhabits it.