Documenting the killing of raptors
During the 1930s, Pough visited Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania and witnessed the shooting of migrating raptors. He returned to photograph bird carcasses left at the site. The images brought a locally concentrated practice to the attention of a wider conservation community.
References: [1]
From photographs to a sanctuary
After seeing Pough’s photographs, New York activist Rosalie Edge leased land at Hawk Mountain in 1934 and installed Maurice and Irma Broun as its guardians. Shooting stopped, and the sanctuary opened to the public the following year. Documentation, acquisition and on-site protection were distinct contributions to the undertaking.
References: [1]
Early work with The Nature Conservancy
Pough subsequently served in The Nature Conservancy’s early leadership, supporting rapid action to protect important natural areas. He also contributed to conservation of Florida’s Corkscrew Swamp. His work connected bird observation and public mobilisation with practical protection of habitat.
References: [2]