New Hampshire Audubon Protecting New Hampshire's natural environment for wildlife and for people.

Christmas Bird Count Preview 2011


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The Christmas Bird Count season is nearly upon us. At this annual event, birdwatchers brave cold temperatures and all weather conditions to survey birds in a designated "count circle" on a given day. A count's survey area stays the same from year to year, comprising a circle fifteen miles in diameter around a central point. International in scope, the Christmas Bird Count is organized and compiled by the National Audubon Society, who coordinates all count circles so they don't overlap.

There are 21 counts in New Hampshire, and they are open to all interested birders. Many are run by New Hampshire Audubon Chapters. Each count picks its own particular survey day between December 14 and January 5. Teams go out and survey sections of the count circle, but there are also feeder watchers within the circle who tally the birds in their backyards. Below is a list of the state's Christmas Bird Counts and who to contact if you are interested in participating.

1. Pittsburg - December 22.
Contact: David Govatski (586-7776 or David.Govatski@gmail.com).
2. Errol-Umbagog - December 23.
Contact: Chris Martin (224-9909 x317 or cmartin@nhaudubon.org).
3. Littleton - December 18.
Contact: Mary Boulanger (444-6993 or mboul@roadrunner.com).
4. North Conway - December 30.
Contact: Nora Dufilho, Tin Mtn. Conservation Ctr. (447-6991 or nbeem@tinmountain.org).
5. Baker Valley - December 18.
Contact: Steve Rounds (764-9011 or ullungdo96@yahoo.com) or Nory Parr (786-9896 or northparr@gmail.com).
6. Hanover-Norwich - January 1.
Contact: Dan Crook (448-2544).
7. Laconia-New Hampton - January 2.
Contact: Pam Hunt (753-9137 or biodiva@myfairpoint.net).
8. Concord - December 18.
Contact: Robert Quinn (RAQbirds@aol.com [preferred] or 746-2535).
9. Lee-Durham - December 26.
Contact: Steve Mirick (978-374-0654 or smirick@comcast.net).
10. Coastal - December 17.
Contact: Len Medlock (603-706-5539 or lenmedlock@comcast.net).
11. Keene - December 18.
Contact: Phil Brown (pbrown@nhaudubon.org or 224-9909 x334).
12. Peterborough-Hancock - December 17.
Contact: Dave Rowell (924-8790 or daverowell@myfairpoint.net).
13. Nashua-Hollis - December 17.
Contact: Richard Bielawski (429-2537 or rbielawski@mac.com).
14. Lake Sunapee - December 17.
Contact: Gary Stansfield (inuk@sugar-river.net [preferred] or 863-8737)
15. Saxtons River (VT – NH) - December 17.
Contact: Donald Clark (802-843-2347 or sapsbks@sover.net).
16. Manchester - Compiler needed.
17. Isles of Shoals - tentative December 18.
Contact Ben Griffith (bgriffith@gmail.com or 603-801-1856).
18. Sandwich - December 29.
Contact: Tony Vazzano (284-7718 or tvazzano@ncia.net).
19. Barnet (VT – NH) - January 1.
Contact: Charlie Browne (802-748-2372, ext. 104 or cbrowne@fairbanksmuseum.org).
20. Grafton-Bristol - status unknown.
Contact: Phred Benham (523-7941, or fbenha1@lsu.edu).
21. Crawford Notch - December 17.
Contact: Craig Repasz (203-230-1697 or crepasz@hotmail.com).

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