Desert biologist Tim Shields has 45+ years experience in the field, logging some 30,000 miles on foot, surveying and making observations. His observations of avian predation on desert tortoises led to the founding Hardshell Labs, Inc. in 2014.

Tim authored, co-authored and illustrated numerous scientific papers, and is widely recognized among U.S. conservationists as a subject matter expert in threatened desert tortoise population management. Tim has trained 200+ workers in various aspects of field biology, and worked with leading agencies and corporations involved in avian deterrence and desert conservation in southern California including: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Raven Management Working Group; Desert Tortoise Council; Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee; Bureau of Land Management; and numerous utility companies.