he was born in philadelphia, pennsylvania and spent his early years in new jersey. he was educated at state teachers college (indiana, pennsylvania), cornell university and new york university. in 1986, he received an honorary doctor of letters from the university of north carolina. he received the john burroughs medal (1971) for "from laurel hill to siler's bog", which detailed his explorations of mason farm biological reserve, part of the north carolina botanical garden. terres served as editor of "audubon magazine" for twelve years (1948-1960).