NEXT WEEKEND, Feb. 11-12, New Hampshire Audubon (NHA) will conduct its Year 2012 Annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey that currently includes squirrels. Participants should watch and record the number and species of every bird and squirrel seen on or about their property. Audubon would appreciate a comment about the weather conditions, and the time spent during the two days observing.

At each time period, record only the maximum number of each species. Keep in mind that by simply adding the totals you will probably have counted the same bird one or more times. To avoid this problem, your final report should include only the greatest number of a species seen at one time. Please record only the species that you can identify. It is also important to remember that even if you do not see any birds or squirrels, mark the survey card accordingly.

When forwarding your results of this year's survey, NHA will find it very helpful if you will use its official reporting form. If you have not requested one by mail, a copy of the form is immediately available by computer.

The NHA website is www.nhaudubon.org.

The Society's survey instructions to participants for 2012 read: “Please be sure you can distinguish between these similar species — Purple and House Finch, the Chipping and American Tree Sparrow and the Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawk. A current field guide can help. Please be sure to send descriptive details of any Chipping sparrow or Cooper's hawk.

“Hawks are difficult to identify. If you know you had a hawk but could not tell what kind, please record it as ‘Hawk species.' The Sharpshinned and Cooper's hawks are two of the most difficult to tell apart and if you can't decide, please don‘t guess but record it as ‘Sharp-shinned/ Cooper's Hawk.' “If you don‘t know the names of all the birds visiting your yard, you can still participate, but please record only the species that you can identify.”

One needs to pay close attention when trying to answer the question: “What bird is that?” Here are some suggestions that may help to correctly identify confusing species of birds. The house finch and our state bird, the purple finch, are frequently mistaken for one another. The adult male purple finch is raspberry colored above, brightest on the head and rump. It is also raspberry-red below and on its throat and breast. There is very little streaking on its breast. The wings and tail of the male are brown and its face has a brown ear patch.

In contrast, the male house finch has red (sometimes orange—red) only on its eyebrow, breast and rump. Its belly and flanks are streaked and its back is solid brown.

The female purple finch is brown above, whitish below with brown streaks; dark ear patch, light eyebrow and cheek stripe. On the other hand, the striped brown female house finch is heavily streaked below, has a smaller bill and lacks the dark ear patch as well as the eyebrow and cheek stripe of the female purple finch.

The American tree sparrow and the chipping sparrow can also be confusing as they both have chestnut or rusty caps, a brown back and a white breast. (Sexes alike.) Although most chipping sparrows have long-since left our state for warmer climes, one was recorded without documentation in the 2011 survey. In contrast, 678 American tree sparrows were counted. The American tree sparrow has a spot on the breast, a gray line above the eye and a rusty line through the eye. Chipping sparrows have no breast spot, a white line above the eye and a black line through the eye.

In addition to the inventory of “usual suspects,” the 2011 survey has a list of species referred to as “unusual reports without descriptive documentation.” These included: three turkey vultures; one red-shouldered hawk; two merlin; one peregrine falcon; one red-headed woodpecker; four winter wrens; two house wrens; one hermit thrush; two gray catbirds; four chipping sparrows; one Savannah sparrow and one swamp sparrow.

Documentation of unusual birds should include a written description, including the size compared to other birds, pattern and color of breast and back, length of tail, bill size and shape. Photographs and digital photos are most valuable. For more information on the 2012 Backyard Winter Bird Survey, contact New Hampshire Audubon, 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301-8200, www.nhaudubon. org, (603) 224-9909.

If a participant sights any unusual birds, please send digital photos via email to bwbs@nhaudubon.org.

Printed photos, though, are still appreciated and should be mailed with your survey card for archival purposes to NH Audubon, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, 03301.

I hope all participants will enjoy next weekend.

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