Birch Compass
January 2026 — New Mexico Nature Journal
What to look for this month near you, with room to record what you find.
This month in nature
Birds to watch
- Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
- Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
- Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
- House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
- Common Raven Corvus corax
- Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
In bloom
A quiet month here — watch and note what you find.
In the garden
- Mid-winter is bare-root planting time in the warm southern valleys; set out dormant fruit trees and pecans around Las Cruces while the soil is cool and moist.
- Prune dormant fruit trees, grapes, and roses now while the structure is visible and the plants are fully at rest across the valleys.
- Start onion and chile seeds indoors now so transplants are ready for the southern valleys after the last hard freeze.
- In the warmest southern zones, sow peas, spinach, and lettuce in a mild spell, keeping row cover ready for the next cold front.
Night sky
- The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks around January 3 in a short, sharp burst — the dark skies over the Chihuahuan desert basins make a fine viewing spot after midnight.
- Orion rides high in the south after dark; trace down from his belt to brilliant Sirius low over the desert horizon.
- The Pleiades cluster rides high overhead at nightfall; the dry winter air over the Gila and Bootheel makes the faint stars easy to count.
My field notes