The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has captured the worldwide attention of biologists, conservationists, and ecologists, and has been the setting for extensive investigation over the past 30 years. Currently, about 40,000 ecotourists per year visit the Cloud Forest, as perhaps the archetypal high-altitude rain forest. This book pulls together and synthesizes the information about this ecosystem and the biota contained therein.

Nature enthusiasts of all ages will learn to train their eyes and ears to be more alert to the lives and seasonal rhythms of the plants and animals in their own backyard. They will also learn the pleasures and benefits of keeping a nature observation journal with a specially designed format that accommodates a short observation every day for five years, making it easy and inviting to compare notes on the dates of annual events such as the appearance of the first buds on the trees, arrival of particular birds, rain and snow fall, and plant growth and harvests. With art from noted illustrator Bemd Heinrich throughout, The Naturalist's Notebook is a beautiful as well as practical, interactive tool for making nature observation and appreciation a regular routine for individuals and families.