Chandler Robbins, who made significant contributions to birding in America, died March 20. He was 98 years old. 

 

Robbins was instrumental in creation of the Breeding Bird Survey, an annual census of bird population throughout the country. He was co-author of one of the early field guides to bird identification, “Birds of North America: A Guide to Field Identification.” The book also was known as “the Golden Guide.” 

 

He began his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1945. Early in his career he authored journal articles on the pesticide DDT. His work contributed to Rachel Carson’s famous book “Silent Spring.” 

 

He was recipient of several national awards for his work in ornithology. He retired after 60 years on the job, his latter years spent at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland. His title upon retirement was Scientist Emeritus. He was active as a bird bander as recently as 2015.