Spirit of Nature in Northern New Mexico: Field Notes on Natural History of Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge

The center of these writings is the Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge-a key part of a 1,500 square mile conservation area more or less midway between the source of the Mora River and its entrance to the Canadian River in northeastern New Mexico.

Spirit of Nature is for the amateur naturalist who doesn't mind muddy shoes or wet socks with seeds sticking in them. It's for the nature lover who enjoys watching the change in seasons and the way nature adapts to them.

When most people think of seasons, they think of four because that is what the calendar tells us. When following changes in nature, however, there are more than twenty-five seasons!

For those interested in phenology, the study of repeating patterns in nature, each season brings a bevy of questions. When does a certain species of flower bloom? When does a given species of migratory bird arrive in the spring to build nests and lay eggs? Can changing conditions affect that timing? Which songs belong to which birds? Which mammal tracks should I follow in fresh snow? Which fragrant scents can I expect in different parts of spring and summer? What new surprises are waiting at each new excursion? Every answer opens more questions!