Robert Tougias is an established nature writer and author. Tougias contributes nature articles to newspapers throughout New England and writes several outdoor columns for newspapers in Connecticut. His articles on cougars have appeared in many magazines, including Appalachian Trailways and Fur-Fish-Game. He has had his work on cougars published in the peer reviewed Proceedings of the Eastern Cougar Conference, and is known by many wildlife biologists for his extensive knowledge on the cougar in the East. His fascination with the cougar began early in life and matured after encountering a set of large cat tracks near the family cabin in northern Vermont. Tougias has been actively researching this book for over a decade. After receiving a degree in Natural Resources from the University of Massachusetts, Tougias offered his service to the Massachusetts Audubon Society and was later employed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He lives in rural Connecticut with his daughter and their dog Zoey, where he is president of a local wildlife club. Jay Tischendorf ( contributing chapter on tracking cougars) Dr. Jay Tischendorf received his Doctoral Degree in Veterinary Science from Colorado State in 1997. As a wildlife veterinarian he has contracted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service red wolf and black-footed ferret recovery programs, and the U.S. Forest Service Northern Rockies Wolverine Study. He is a pioneer in the surgical implantation of radio transmitters. He helped confirm for the first time in modern history the presence of cougars in Yellowstone National Park, where he spent two years tracking, capturing and collaring cougars. He was instrumental in the ABC documentary film Ghost Cat of the Rockies. Dr. Jay Tischendorf is a leading expert on cougars in the East, and has been actively involved with the subject for twenty five years.

The Quest For The Eastern Cougar: Extinction or Survival?

Science & Math

Tougias, Robert

Biological Sciences

iUniverse Publishing

“Birder on Berry Lane weaves a remarkably rich tapestry, describing many birds’ lives around a single place and showing just how connected to them we can become. Robert Tougias proves that if we look, we can see so much more than we think, even in our own backyards.” Brian Sullivan eBird project leader, Cornell University Author of Better Birding—Tips, Tools, and Concepts for the Field A month-by-month guide to the birds that flock to the peaceful New England backyard of a noted writer, birder, and naturalist. Robert Tougias's house on Berry Lane may look like a typical Connecticut suburban home, but as his fascinating year-long account reveals, its three-acre backyard is teeming with nature's mysteries. Acutely sensitive to the activities of birds, Tougias notes which species are present, which are breeding, and where their nests are. He identifies each species by its song, and brings us on a journey of appreciation as we learn the wonders of bird migration, the sensitive interaction of birds with their habitat, and the hidden meaning of their call notes and songs. Intimate and acutely observed writing reveals the miracles of the ordinary in the subtle changes, season to season, of the ecosystem of the woods, streams, and meadow that make up the sprawling backyard on Berry Lane. We are led to consider, too, the dangers posed by the climate crisis and unthinking human development. The quietly powerful writing tunes our senses to the change of the seasons, the return of warblers in spring, geese flying south in the fall--all happening on time as they have for eons. Beautifully illustrated with twenty-five line drawings, Birder on Berry Lane is a book of sublime simplicity that teaches an appreciation for what we commonly overlook.

Birder on Berry Lane: Three Acres, Twelve Months, Thousands of Birds

Imagine

Birding Western Massachusetts features over 26 great birding locations in Western Massachusetts. Every site has been chosen either for diversity and volume of bird life, or for its unique and rare birds. All sites are easily accessible and open to the public year-round. Whether you are an avid birder looking for specific birds, or a casual nature enthusiast with an interest in seeing different kinds of birds, this guide will provide you with everything you need to make every birding experience a success. 
Author Robert tougias presents a "habitat" approach to birding, showing how to use the awareness of habitat to find birds. With mountains, meadows, rivers, and reservoirs, a wide variety of habitats exists in western Massachusetts--from sub-alpine conditions to pitch pine scrubland. Within each habitat, a unique set of birds can be found. And what a variety! There are over 100 different birds nesting in western Massachusetts, and as many as 300 different birds are recorded annually through the seasons. Few people realize the ideal situation of such a large variety of birds, together with a large number of easily accessible places in which to view them. It is a winning combination for every birder at every level to enjoy. This guide allows you to seize this opportunity in an easy, userfriendly way. 
Birding Western Massachusetts is written in a readable style that motivates the reader and helps ensure a productive birding day afield. It describes precise locations and seasons where rare and abundant species may be found. By carefully selecting the sites, you have the opportunity to see everything from eagles to songbirds to rare owls, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Also revealed are the best sites and times for viewing the numerous southern and northern species that migrate regularly through this region. The challenge of finding and identifying birds is made easier with trail maps, site directions, illustrations (by the author), information on bird identification and birding techniques, as well as the unique Quick Locator Reference, enabling you to quickly find the best sites for any bird. This guide will soon make better birders out of each reader.

Birding Western Massachusetts: A Habitat Guide to 26 Great Birding Sites from the Berkshires to the Quabbin

Nature & Ecology

New England Cartographics, Inc

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Books by Tougias, Robert