Back to the BWBS	Annual Summary for 1996
	ASNH Winter Bird Survey

1996 Backyard Winter Bird Survey Results by Dr. Pamela Hunt

Thanks to all participants in the annual Winter Bird Survey. As many observers noted, the winter of 1995-96 was characterized by very few birds at feeders. It also didn't help that the second day of the count had miserable weather, ranging from snow to freezing rain to rain depending on where you were in the state. Finally, a 20% decrease in observers obviously had an effect on the totals. Please remember that it is important to report every year even when there are very few birds. No data is still data, and if we do not receive reports from observers who see very few birds, the data will be biased and result in misleading conclusions! You are strongly encouraged to hang in there, even when there are no birds at your feeders. (1996 results data) With very few exceptions (notably woodpeckers and nuthatches), most of the common feeder birds were at or near record lows (at least since 1989) this past winter. Included in this category were such favorites as Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Tufted Titmice, Northern Cardinals, and most sparrows and finches. Much of this decline was obviously due to the poor weather on February 11, but it also reflects a basic pattern that was present all winter. There are probably two factors behind this decline. First, natural food crops were very poor in the fall of 1995, probably because of the summer's drought. The virtual absence of acorns, for instance, was almost certainly behind the mass departure of Blue Jays, which were totally absent from some feeders. Add to this lack of food the early snowfalls and cold weather in November, which made the little food available harder for birds to find. As a result, they packed up and headed to more hospitable regions. Most dramatic was the 60% decline in the number of House Finches, a yet unexplained pattern being seen in other parts of the country as well. While the snow and cold may have been behind the low numbers of regular feeder birds, it might have had the opposite effect on others. In particular, Barred Owls hit a record high, perhaps because they were having trouble finding food deep in the woods, thus were venturing closer to birds and rodents attracted to feeders. Several other species also reached record highs! Foremost among them was the Red-bellied Woodpecker, 16 of which were tallied during the count. In all previous years, the highest number recorded was two, and the species was missed almost as often as it was found. This Red-bellied Woodpecker "invasion" began the previous fall and was well documented throughout New England. Time will only tell if they will stay for another winter. Invading from the other direction were Common Redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks, only two years after their last invasion. This is a little unusual, because these species usually occur in four-year cycles, and perhaps is further indication of low food availability, this time in the forests to the north. Following the invading song-birds were Northern Shrikes, the first since 1992 on this survey. While they may have been unwelcome predators at some feeders, they were a special treat at others. Miscellaneous highlights include the continued presence of Bald Eagles along the Merrimack River, a record high of Wild Turkeys, several comments about hawks at feeders (observers at the national level are also noticing this trend), and a drastic decline in Carolina Wrens. The latter is quite likely due to direct mortality rather than low food supplies. Carolina Wrens are at the northern edge of their range in New Hampshire, and are thus not adapted for extreme cold. They traditionally decline in New England after particularly cold winters, and it looks like 1995-96 was no exception. Once again, a hearty thank you to all who submitted data to this important survey. This project would obviously not be possible without participants like yourselves, as well as the many volunteers who help to enter the data and organize the results. Special thanks to those of you who sent in a contribution to defray our costs, and here's hoping you have more backyard birds in 1996-97. Dr. Pamela Hunt Consulting Ornithologist