Such painting for the scientific record was concerned primarily with seeking factual truth. When tools were developed to aid in the appreciation of nature and ecological research took off, conservationism swept the world and the number of bird watchers increased daily. Scientific illustrations were produced in great quantities and the demands of the art market gave rise to the ecological art of today.
以科學記錄為目的的繪畫，首要求真，加上觀賞自然的工具發達、生態研究興起，保育風氣席捲，賞鳥人口大增，科學圖鑑大量出版，藝術市場需求也日多，遂發展出今天的生態繪畫。