THE 2012 NH Audubon Backyard Winter Bird Survey will be held during the weekend of Feb. 11 and 12. Those are the dates selected by NH Audubon to count birds and squirrels here in New Hampshire. As many people as possible are requested to participate in this important survey.

According to Rebecca Suomala, survey coordinator and NH Audubon biologist: “Participants should report any bird (and squirrel species) visiting their yard and/or feeders on those two days. Originally begun as ‘Cardinal-Tufted Titmouse Census’ it was expanded in 1987 to gather information on the distribution and abundance of winter bird species in New Hampshire.” A few years ago squirrels were added to the list to find out if there might be a relationship between their abundance, or lack thereof, with respect to the numbers of bird reported.

When forwarding your results of this year’s survey to NH Audubon it is most helpful if you use their official reporting form. If you have not requested one by mail at NH Audubon, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301, there is still time to do so. A copy of the form is also available by computer. The NH Audubon website is www.nhaudubon. org.

The following information was gleaned from NH Audubon’s senior conservation biologist, Dr. Pamela Hunt’s report of the results of the 2011 Backyard Winter Bird Survey (BWBS).

“The winter of 2010-11 was a significant departure from the recent norm in that it was relatively cold in most of New England, In fact, it was the first winter in several years where the average temperature was below the 100-year average! There was also a lot of snow. Concord received over 60 inches in January and February, more than twice the average amount and certainly more than in recent memory. ... I now present you with the exciting results. ...

“Looking at the big picture, 77 species were recorded overall, tying the previous high from 2001.

Among the 77 species were a few rarities, and I’ll start with those. Topping the list was the first Survey record of Great Cormorant — seen along the Merrimack River in Manchester.

New Hampshire has two species of cormorants: the Double-crested Cormorant is very common from April to October, while the Great is mostly found in winter. It is also usually found on the coast, although a few linger until the lakes and rivers freeze. Since the BWBS started in 1987, there have been two previous records of cormorants, although neither was conclusively identified as one species or the other. This year’s Great Cormorant is in some ways not as surprising as one might think since there were up to 16 along the Merrimack River during much of February, when normally there might be only one or two.

“We also had our second record for two other species, including a record high of three Yellowbellied Sapsuckers. This species was first recorded in 2007, when there were two of them, and data from across New England suggest that sapsuckers are getting more common in winter, (they normally winter in the southeastern United States). If this trend continues, it may become a more regular species on the BWBS.

“Another species that spends the winter in the southeast is the Red-shouldered Hawk. Every year there are a couple lingering somewhere, usually near the coast, and this year the second BWBS record of this species was photographed in Portsmouth. Providing a third-ever record was Rough-legged Hawk, this time photographed in East Kingston. Rough-leggeds are birds of open country, and in winter they are most likely in the Connecticut River Valley or the seacoast.”

Summarizing Dr. Hunt’s species projections for this 2012 BWBS she wrote: “Back in the summer of 2011, it appeared as if we’d have an influx of Whitewinged Crossbills this winter, but the numbers in the White Mountains declined considerably after September, so they apparently have wandered elsewhere. We can be pretty certain that redpoll numbers will be down in 2012, since this species has a two-year cycle and was quite common in 2011. The opposite may be true for Pine Siskins, which showed signs in October of making a push south in the Concord area. Time will tell. ...

In any event there is a lot of natural food in the woods, including ash seeds, cones and berries so that birds that eat these things may appear to capitalize on the bumper crop. Examples could include Evening Grosbeaks and the aforementioned crossbills and siskins on the cones.

“We are due for a good year for American Goldfinches, which last peaked in 2009. I suspect Carolina Wrens may be on the increase. ... We may be in for a big influx of Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks. ... We’ll be watching Black-capped Chickadees since many people have reported few birds at their feeders this fall. ... Data from the BWBS will help us see what is going on.”

Stacey Cole’s address is 529 W. Swanzey Road, Swanzey 03446.