Mindful Birding & Nature Journaling

Please call Pauline Davis at 505-685-1019 to register for this program.

Mindful birding and nature journaling are perfect partners for creating a deeper connection to the natural world. Over the course of our time together at Ghost Ranch, you’ll be invited to slow down, notice, and give shape to moments of wonder.

Mindful Birding

When we weave together the observation of wild birds with mindfulness, this is mindful birding.This joyful practice offers us a chance to be present with what is: to reflect and appreciate while experiencing gratitude, wonder, and awe.

The simple act of focusing attention on the present moment with kindness and without judgment can be a gateway to well being, but this isn’t always easy. Attentiveness in nature — noticing the sights, the sounds, the smells, and sensations that arise — can be a form of mindfulness practice that comes more easily for many people. With mindful birding, the birds themselves — their movements, behaviors, sounds — can serve as the anchor for our attention.

Nature Journaling

Another way to focus attention on what we experience is through nature journaling, which is the practice of recording observations using words, pictures, and numbers. Whether focusing on birds, plants, insects, or even the clouds in the sky, we can form deeper connections through nature journaling.

Using a sketchbook (we’ll make two different journals) and basic mark-making tools, we can observe closely, then record our observations and wonderings. This practice can be done anywhere and any time, helping develop both curiosity and our connection to nature.

Join birding enthusiast and mindfulness meditation teacher Holly Thomas along with birder and nature journaling educator Cheryl Fallstead as we explore the beauty and wonder of Ghost Ranch — with nature as our guide. We’ll spend a week together with sit spots, mindful walks, journaling, and sharing our moments of connection.