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NH Audubon invites residents to join annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey

By Staff | Jan 22, 2025

CONCORD — New Hampshire Audubon is calling nature enthusiasts and bird lovers to participate in the annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey, a unique opportunity to contribute valuable data from your own backyard to help track New Hampshire’s winter bird populations.

Scheduled for Feb. 8-9, the survey is open to participants all across the state. Whether you are a seasoned birder or just starting to learn to identify the birds in your backyard, the survey is fun for all ages. Last year, there were more than 1,500 participants.

This is the 38th year of the survey. During this time, there have been dramatic changes both in winter temperatures and the birds that call New Hampshire home for the winter. Twenty-five years ago, almost no Eastern Bluebirds stayed in New Hampshire for the winter; today, people see them throughout much of the state during the colder months. The New Hampshire Audubon has also tracked Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Carolina Wrens moving into the state during the last 25 years. Not every trend is positive though. Other species, like Evening Grosbeaks, have declined. This is where the value of this long-term dataset is realized.

Last year’s winter brought surprises with a record high count of Pine Warblers, a species that typically winters farther south. There were also record numbers of Turkey Vultures, a bird expanding its winter range northward. Wild Turkey numbers dropped, likely due to a poor breeding season the year before. Some rare surprises included the first-ever Yellow-throated Warbler recorded in the survey–a bird that typically nests no farther north than New Jersey and usually migrates to southern Florida or the Caribbean islands.

Many will remember the flocks of Pine Siskins and Dark-eyed Juncos that visited their feeders last February. While there may not be as many Pine Siskins this year, there’s always something exciting to observe. Each year, Senior Biologist Dr. Pamela Hunt speculates on what might be observed in the upcoming survey. This year, she predicts high counts of Red-breasted Nuthatches, a species that often moves south into New Hampshire in response to dwindling food supplies up north. Additionally, she anticipates strong showings of favorites like Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens and Eastern Bluebirds.

“You’d be amazed by the variety of birds you can spot right in your own backyard,” said survey Coordinator Grace McCulloch. “Joining the survey is a great way to support bird research in New Hampshire–and it’s just plain fun. From woodpeckers to Tufted Titmice, it’s exciting to see who shows up. You can count your birds standing outside, or my personal favorite, sit by the window with a hot cup of coffee and watch the action unfold.”

Last year, the top five species on the survey were:

-American Goldfinch (9,925 birds)

-Dark-eyed Junco (9,665 birds)

-Mourning Dove (4,695 birds)

-Black-capped Chickadee (4,395 birds)

-Blue Jay (4,373 birds)

Participation is simple: count the birds in your yard or at your bird feeder for any amount of time on Feb. 8-9. Record the numbers of each species you see, then submit your data online with our easy-to-use form.

“Even if you only see a few birds, your data is valuable,” said Grace. “It’s the collective effort of participants across the state that makes this survey so impactful.”

Visit www.nhaudubon.org/bwbs for more information, including tips for identifying winter birds, full survey instructions, printable tally sheets, and instructions for submitting your data online. You can also join our free webinar on Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about the survey. The registration link is on the webpage. Send email to bwbs@nhaudubon.org with any questions.