Robert A. Askins
Professor of Biology
| Connecticut College | Office Phone: (860) 439-2149 |
| 270 Mohegan Avenue | Fax: (860) 439-2519 |
| New London, CT 06320-4196 | E-mail: raask@conncoll.edu |
Education
B.S. 1970 University of Michigan
M.S. 1977 University of Minnesota
Ph.D. 1981 University of Minnesota
1992-present — Professor of Biology, Connecticut College
1999-present — Director, Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies
2005-present — Chair, Department of Biology
1996-1999 — Chair, Department of Zoology, Connecticut College
1994-1995 — Visiting Professor, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
1988, 2001 — Visiting Scholar, Associated Kyoto Program, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
1987-1992 — Associate Professor of Zoology, Connecticut College
1981-1987 — Assistant Professor of Zoology, Connecticut College
1980-1981 — Project Assistant, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota
1978-1981 — Instructor, Dept. of Extension Classes, University of Minnesota
1974-1978 — Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, University of Minnesota
1970-1974 — U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer (Belize, Uganda, Thailand)
1967-1968 — Summer Worker, U.S. Forest Service.
Professional Societies
American Ornithologists' Union (Fellow), Association of Field Ornithologists, Society of Caribbean Ornithology, Society for Conservation Biology, Wilson Ornithological Society
Fellowships And Grants
Associated Kyoto Program Faculty Fellowship (1988, 2001), Connecticut DEP Wildlife Division (1997, 1998, 1999, 2007), National Biological Service (1997), U.S. Forest Service (1994), Institute of Tropical Forestry, U. S. Forest Service (1992, 1994, 1995), Connecticut Forest and Parks Association (1990), U. S. National Park Service (1990), National Geographic Society (1987), World Nature Association (1987), The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut Chapter (1985)
Awards
Mabel Osgood Wright Award, Connecticut Ornithological Association, 1995
Nancy Batson Nisbet Rash Research Scholar Award, Connecticut College, 2000-2001
Professional Achievement Award, The New England Chapter of the Wildlife Society, 2001
Publications
(a) Book
Askins, R. A. 2000. Restoring North America's Birds. Lessons from Landscape Ecology. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT. 320 pp. Second edition: 2002. Japanese edition: 2003.
(b) Professional Articles and Book Chapters (* - undergraduate student co-author)
Askins, R. A. 1977. Family Sciuridae, squirrels and flying squirrels. Pages 337-387 in B. Lekagul and J. McNeely, Mammals of Thailand, Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, Bangkok, Thailand.
Askins, R. A. 1981. Survival in winter: the importance of roost holes to resident birds. The Loon 53(4): 179-184 .
Askins, R. A. 1983. Foraging ecology of temperate-zone and tropical woodpeckers. Ecology 64(4): 945-956.
Hilton, B., Jr. and Askins. 1983. Birds of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Region. Revision of an annotated checklist written in 1951 by A. W. Dodge, H. F. Fullerton, W. J. Breckenridge, and D. W. Warner. Bell Museum of Natural History, Minneapolis, MN.
O'Brien, M.* and R. A. Askins. 1985. The effects of Mute Swans on native waterfowl. Connecticut Warbler 5(3): 27-31 (1985).
Askins, R. A., M. Philbrick*, and D. Sugeno*. 1987. Relationship between the regional abundance of forest and the composition of forest bird communities. Biological Conservation 39(2): 129-152.
Askins, R. A. and M. Philbrick*. 1987. Effect of changes in regional forest abundance on the decline and recovery of a forest bird community. Wilson Bulletin 99(1): 7-21.
Askins, R. A., K. M. Ercolino*, and J. D. Waller*. 1987. Flower destruction and nectar depletion by avian nectar robbers on a tropical tree, Cordia sebestena. Journal of Field Ornithology 58(3): 345-349.
Askins, R. A. , J. Lynch, and R. Greenberg. 1990. Population declines in migratory birds in eastern North America. Pp. 1-57 in Power, D. (editor), Current Ornithology, Volume 7.
Askins, R. A 1990. Birds of the Connecticut College Arboretum. Population changes over forty years. Connecticut Arboretum Bulletin 31: 1-43.
Askins, R. A and D. N. Ewert. 1991. Impact of Hurricane Hugo on bird populations on St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands. Biotropica 23: 481-487 (1991).
Ewert, D. N. and Askins, R. A 1991. Flocking behavior of migratory warblers in winter in the Virgin Islands. Condor 93: 864-868.
Askins, R. A, D. N. Ewert, and R. Norton. 1992. Abundance of wintering migrants in fragmented and continuous forests in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Pp. 197-206 in Hagan, J. W. and D. W. Johnston (editors). Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Migrant Landbirds, Smithsonian Press, Washington, DC.
Askins, R. A 1993. Population trends in grassland, shrubland, and forest birds in eastern North America. Pp. 1-34 in Power, D. (editor), Current Ornithology, Volume 11.
Askins, R. A. 1994. Species accounts: Northern Bobwhite, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat and Eastern Meadowlark. In Bevier, L. R. (editor), The atlas of breeding birds of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut, Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT.
Askins, R. A. 1994. Open corridors in a heavily forested landscape: Impact on shrubland and forest- interior birds. Wildlife Society Bulletin 22: 339-347.
Askins, R. A. 1995. Hostile landscapes and the decline of migratory birds. Science 267: 1956-1957.
Pimm, S. L. and R. A. Askins. 1995. Forest losses predict bird extinctions in eastern North America. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 92: 9343-9347.
Askins, R. A. 1997. History of grasslands in the northeastern United States: Implications for bird conservation. Pages 128 - 145 in Vickery, P. D. and P. W. Dunwiddie (editors) Grasslands of northeastern North America: Ecology and conservation of native and agricultural landscapes. Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln, MA.
Brawley, A. H., R. S. Warren, and R. A. Askins. 1998. Bird use of restoration and reference marshes within the Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, CT, USA. Environmental Management 22: 625-633.
O'Neill, D. C.* and R. A. Askins. 1998. Reproductive success of ospreys at two sites in Connecticut. Connecticut Warbler 18: 120-132.
Askins, R. A. 1998. Restoring forest disturbance to sustain populations of shrubland birds. Restoration Management and Notes 16: 166-173.
Benoit, L. K. and R. A. Askins. 1999. Impact of the spread of Phragmites on the distribution of birds in Connecticut tidal marshes. Wetlands 19: 194-208.
Askins, R. A. 1999. History of grassland birds in eastern North America. In Vickery, P. and J. Herkert (editors). Studies in Avian Biology 19: 60-71.
Kurosawa, R. and R. A. Askins. 1999. Differences in bird communities on the forest edge and in the forest interior: Are there forest-interior specialists in Japan? Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology 31:63-79.
Askins, R. A., H. Higuchi, and H. Murai. 2000. Effect of forest fragmentation on migratory songbirds in Japan. Global Environmental Research 4: 219-229.
Askins, R. A. 2001. Sustaining biological diversity in early successional communities: the challenge of managing unpopular habitats. Wildlife Society Bulletin 20: 407-412.
Benoit, L. K. and R. A. Askins. 2002. Relationship between habitat area and the distribution of tidal marsh birds. Wilson Bulletin 114: 314-323.
Kurosawa, R. and R. A. Askins. 2003. Effects of habitat fragmentation on birds in deciduous forests in Japan. Conservation Biology 17: 695-707.
Roback, P. J. and R. A. Askins. 2005. Judicious use of multiple hypothesis tests. Conservation Biology 19: 261-267.
Askins, R. A., F. Chávez-Ramírez, B. C. Dale, C. A. Haas, J. R. Herkert, F. L. Knopf, and P. D. Vickery. In press. Conservation of grassland birds in North America: understanding ecological processes in different regions. Ornithological Monographs 64: 1-46.
Askins, R. A., B. Zuckerberg*, and L. Novak*. In press. Do the size and landscape context of forest openings influence the abundance and breeding success of shrubland songbirds in southern New England? Forest Ecology and Management.
(c) Professional Articles by Undergraduate Students (*) under my supervision
Daub, B. C.* 1989. Behavior of common loons in winter. Journal of Field Ornithology 60: 305-311.
Ford, T. B. * 1992. Management of thickets for yellow-breasted chats. Connecticut Warbler 12: 93-100.
Ford, T. B.* and J. A. Gieg*. 1995. Winter behavior of the Common Loon. Journal of Field Ornithology 66: 22-29.
Groce, J.* 2002. Feeding ecology of a winter waterfowl community. Connecticut Warbler 22: 13-24.
(d) General Articles
Askins, R. A. 1984. How bees affect the evolution of flowers. Plants and Gardens 40: 49-52.
Askins, R. A. 1985. How birds survive the winter in Minnesota. The Minnesota Volunteer 48: 16-19.
Askins, R. A. 1987. Bird territories: A key to understanding bird behavior. American Birds 41: 35-40.
Askins, R. A. 1987. Attracting cavity-nesting birds to gardens and woodlots. Plants and Gardens 43: 31-35.
Askins, R. A. 1991. Protecting forests for wildlife. Connecticut Woodlands 11: 21-22.
Askins, R. A. 1992. Forest fragmentation and the decline of migratory songbirds. Bird Observer 20: 13-21.
Askins, R. A. 1992. Connecticut Ornithological Association surveys of bird populations - 1991. Connecticut Warbler 12: 15-20.
Askins, R. A. and D. N. Ewert. 1992. Population studies of migratory birds in Virgin Islands National Park. Park Science 12: 12-13.
Askins, R. A. 1995. Conservation of grassland birds in the Northeast. Bird Observer 23: 85-88.
Askins, R. A. 1996. Midwestern National Forests and migratory songbirds. Inner Voice 8 (2): 6-7.
Askins, R. A. 1996. Disappearing heritage: Declining grassland birds of Connecticut. Connecticut Wildlife 16 (3): 4-5.
Askins, R. A. 1998. Recovery and future of the northeastern forest. Northeastern Naturalist 5: 97-98.
Askins, R. A. 2000. Grassland birds: Part of our state's natural heritage. Hartford Courant, Sept. 26. (Op-ed article)
Askins, R. A. 2002. Helping shrubland birds. Connecticut Woodlands 66: 12-16.
Askins, R. A. 2006. Birds Dependent on Specialized Habitats are Declining. Pages 24-33 in Connecticut State of the Birds; Conserving Birds and their Habitats, Connecticut Audubon Society.
Askins, R. A. 2007. Achieving a solution to acid deposition and other international environmental problems. Pages 309-316 in Visgilio, G. R. and D. M. Whitelaw (editors), Acid in the Environment: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects. Springer Science + Business Media, New York.
(e) Edited Volume
Askins, R. A. and G. D. Dreyer (editors). 1998. Proceedings of a symposium on the recovery and future of the northeastern forest. Northeastern Naturalist 5: 95-174.
(f) Book Reviews
Askins, R. A. 1991. Review of Connecticut Birds by Joseph D. Zeranski and Thomas R. Baptist. Connecticut Warbler 11: 21-22 .
Askins, R. A. 1992. Review of Understanding the Eastern Caribbean and the Antilles by Nelson Marshall. Ecology 73:1931.
Askins, R. A. 1996. Review of Ecological Versatility and Community Ecology by Ralph McNally. Choice 34 (2).
Askins, R. A. 1998. Review of The Ecology of Migrant Birds: A Neotropical Perspective by John H. Rappole. Journal of Wildlife Management 62: 428-430.
Askins, R. A. 1998. Review of Ecology and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds: A Synthesis and Review of Critical Issues, edited by Thomas E. Martin and Deborah M. Finch. Wilson Bulletin 110: 296-306.
Askins, R. A. 2003. Review of Conservation Biology by Andrew S. Pullin. Ecology 84: 1644-1645.
Askins, R. A. 2005. Review of The Carolina Parakeet: Glimpses of a Vanished Bird by Noel F. R. Snyder. Journal of Field Ornithology 76: 313-314.
Askins, R. A. 2005. Review of Bird Ecology and Conservation: a Handbook of Techniques by William Sutherland, Ian Newton, and Rhys E. Green. Ecology 86: 2550-2551.
Askins, R. A. 2006. Review of Forest Birds of the Last Green Valley. The Density, Distribution, Habitat, Ecology and Conservation of Forest Birds of Eastern Connecticut by Robert J. Craig, Michael Altshul, and Kathleen G. Beal. Connecticut Warbler 26: 23-27.
(g) Bird Census Reports
Breeding bird census: Oak-hemlock forest, transition forest, and thicket; report published annually in American Birds (1983-1988) and Journal of Field Ornithology (1989-1996).
Recent Papers Presented At Scientific Meetings
Ewert, D. N. and R. A. Askins.. Relationship between the abundance of foliage insects and wintering warblers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. American Ornithologists' Union Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 13-16 August, 1997.
Askins. R. A. Decline of open-habitat birds in eastern North America. Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, February 12 - 17, 1998.
Askins. R. A., B. Zuckerberg*, and L. Novak*. Use of clearcuts by Blue-winged Warblers and other shrubland birds. Annual Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union, Cornell University, August 12, 1999.
Benoit, L. K. and R. A. Askins. Effect of habitat fragmentation on tidal marsh birds. Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society, University of Arkansas, May 5, 2001.
Benoit, L. K. and R. A. Askins. Effect of habitat fragmentation on tidal marsh birds in North America. Annual Meeting of the Japanese Ornithological Society, Kyoto University, Japan, October 6, 2001.
Askins, R. A. Effect of forest fragmentation on bird communities in Japan. Joint Meeting of the Association of Field Ornithologists and the Wilson Ornithological Society, Florida Gulf Coast University, April 12, 2002.
Askins, R. A. Distribution of early successional birds in artificial openings in forests. Joint meeting of the American Ornithologists Union and the Canadian Ornithological Society, August 16, 2004.
Askins, R. A. and B. Zuckerberg*. Abundance and reproductive success of Blue-winged Warblers in forest openings of different sizes. Annual meeting of the American Ornithologists Union, August 23-27, 2005, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Askins, R. A. Conservation of birds of open Habitats in New England, Wilson Ornithological Society Annual Meeting, Wakefield, MA, 3/24/07 (invited talk).
Other Professional Activities