Hanover - Norwich Christmas Bird Count
Monday, January 1
Beginning at 7:00 a.m.
This year's Christmas Bird Count season marks the 118th anniversary of a tradition dating back to Christmas 1900. The first count was organized by ornithologist and Audubon Society board member Frank M.Chapman as a conservation minded alternative to the "Christmas Side Hunt" where teams sportsment went afield to see how many birds and mammals they could shoot.
Geographic areas are divided up into "count circles" fifteen miles in diameter covering the same ground every year. Teams of counters routes within them.
If you'd like to participate in a count that's near you, visit the following sites.
For NH:
http://nhbirdrecords.org/new-hampshire-birding-resources/new-hampshire-christmas-bird-count/
For VT:
http://vt.audubon.org/audubon-christmas-bird-count-0
For more information about this event, please contact organizer Walter Ellison
e-mail: rossgull61@gmail.com
Meet in front of the Hopkins Center at 7:00 a.m.
January 1st, 2013
Total Species: 54 (plus 4 for count week), (54 in 2001-2, record 58 in 1999-2000)
Total Individuals: 12,676 (previous record was 11,971 in 2002)
31 participants in 11 parties, plus 1 feeder
Hours: 90.25 (56 car, 34.25 foot)
Miles: 569.5 (539.3 car, 30.2 foot)
Bold type indicates significant species or record high totals; CW=seen during count week
******
Count day featured up to 12” of snow on the ground, overcast morning skies with a few brief flurries and emerging afternoon sun, and temperatures in the chilly low 20s. The Eastern Towhee in Hanover was a first count record, as was Hoary Redpoll in Norwich (count week). Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Rough-legged Hawk, & Merlin were third records in 51 years; Chipping Sparrow (6th time) and Hermit Thrush (7th time). Record counts this year were Mallard (previous record 625 last year), Bald Eagle (previous record 7), American Crow (previous record 5140), and Carolina Wren (crushed previous record of 9); Am. Tree Sparrow nearly reached the record count of 270 from 1972.
Canada Goose 1 (injured)
Wood Duck 1 (male, mouth MascomaR)
American Black Duck 20
Mallard 840
[Black x Mallard hybrid] 5
Green-winged Teal 1 (male, Lebanon)
Common Goldeneye 1
Hooded Merganser 50
Common Merganser 70
Wild Turkey 215
Bald Eagle 9 (3 adult, 6 imm.)
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Cooper’s Hawk 4
Red-tailed Hawk 9
Rough-legged Hawk 1 (dark, NNorwich)
Merlin 1 (West Leb)
Ring-billed Gull CW
Rock Pigeon 503
Mourning Dove 367
Barred Owl CW
Downy Woodpecker 70
Hairy Woodpecker 58
Pileated Woodpecker 4
Northern Shrike 1
Blue Jay 271
American Crow 6000 (evening roost, Leb)
Common Raven 28
Black-capped Chickadee 1509
Tufted Titmouse 106
Red-breasted Nuthatch 26
White-breasted Nuthatch 135
Brown Creeper 16
Carolina Wren 18
Golden-crowned Kinglet 34
Hermit Thrush 1 (Hanover)
American Robin 32
Northern Mockingbird 4
European Starling 585
Bohemian Waxwing 38
Cedar Waxwing 12
Eastern Towhee 1 (Hanover)
Am. Tree Sparrow 260
Chipping Sparrow 1 (WRJ)
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 9
Dark-eyed Junco 246
Snow Bunting 35
Cardinal 90
Brown-headed Cowbird CW
Pine Grosbeak 58
Purple Finch 4
House Finch 92
White-winged Crossbill 1
Common Redpoll 283
Hoary Redpoll CW
Pine Siskin 2
American Goldfinch 70
Evening Grosbeak 14
House Sparrow 459
Special thanks to event coordinators and co-compilers Walter Ellison, Nancy Martin & Dan Crook for all they did to make this possible.
