I consider myself to have been the bridge between the shotgun and the binoculars in bird watching. Before I came along, the primary way to observe birds was to shoot them and stuff them.
Roger Tory PetersonButterflies are very interesting. Here these things are little grubs for a while. And then they go into a little coffin. There they are in a sarcophagus, and then they come out and dance with the angels.
Roger Tory PetersonBirds have wings; they're free; they can fly where they want when they want. They have the kind of mobility many people envy.
Roger Tory PetersonNot all is doom and gloom. We are beginning to understand the natural world and are gaining a reverence for life - all life.
Roger Tory PetersonThe philosophy that I have worked under most of my life is that the serious study of natural history is an activity which has far-reaching effects in every aspect of a person's life. It ultimately makes people protective of the environment in a very committed way. It is my opinion that the study of natural history should be the primary avenue for creating environmentalists.
Roger Tory Peterson