John Michael Campbell, Ph.D. |  2025 June through July

John Michael Campbell, Ph.D. (Mike) lived along the southern shore of Lake Erie for over forty years, working as a biology and environmental science professor. Mike’s fascination with nature began at age five, and he started birdwatching as a teenager. He then turned his attention to freshwater aquatic creatures of all kinds during his undergraduate and graduate education and authored a 300-page dissertation on the reproductive ecology of water fleas (Cladocera) at Texas A&M University in 1983. Besides publishing dozens of scientific papers in scholarly books and journals, Campbell has written nature-themed poetry continuously since the mid-1970s.

Since retiring from Mercyhurst University in May 2024, Mike’s leisure activities have included outdoor walks with family and grand-dogs, birdwatching, and nature photography. He continues to work as an environmental activist in his local community and focuses his professional energies on investigating the impact of anthropogenic noise on bird vocalization behaviors.

RESIDENCY TALK
“Sunrise Bird Soundscapes”​
Drawing inspiration from Aldo Leopold’s iconic observations at his “shack” in Michigan, Mike's work explores the rich bird soundscapes of Tres Piedras—particularly around the historic Leopold cabin. Through carefully captured dawn recordings, attendees will experience the shifting chorus of bird species across different habitats, from the quiet forests of Carson National Forest to the more urban rhythms of Taos. The presentation will feature comparative soundscapes that highlight how human noise shapes birdsong—and how birdsong, in turn, shapes us. If conditions allow, the event will culminate in a guided birdsong walk through Kit Carson Park, inviting the audience to reconnect with nature through the music of the landscape. 

Click here to view Mike's Residency talk flyer.​​