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Carter Hill Raptor Observatory

Fall 2017

Final Report

Observation Platform at Carter Hill Orchard. Photo: Phil Brown

Compiled by Kenneth Klapper, Staff Naturalist

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Introduction and Mission

Carter Hill Raptor Observatory is located at Carter Hill Orchard, a conserved, family-owned

farm that grows apples and other fruit in Concord, NH. The Observatory is one of two that is

coordinated by New Hampshire Audubon, an independent, statewide organization whose mission is

“to protect New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people” by focusing on

environmental education, land conservation and stewardship, policy, and research. The observation

platform, which is open to the public, is a central feature of the orchard. The platform is not currently

ADA accessible, but disabled visitors can observe hawks from the area below. Upwards of 10,000

people may visit during the course of the fall season, with large crowds on weekends in mid-

September through mid-October. School group visits are common on weekdays. Reservations are

generally recommended for school or other large group visits, and donations to New Hampshire

Audubon in support of the Observatory are suggested.

October view from the observation platform. Photo: Phil Brown

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Site History

New Hampshire Audubon (NHA) founded the Carter Hill Raptor Observatory in 2008, after

local birders alerted NHA staff to the viewing platform built by the Larocque family on their orchard.

For the first few seasons, data collection was led by volunteer raptor ambassador, Robert Vallieres,

who dedicated hundreds of hours to watching the skies and recording observations of migrant raptors

alongside diligent and enthusiastic volunteers Tom Brewton, Dave Howe, Crawford Lyons, Steve

Manifold, Mark Timmerman, and others. Beginning in 2012, NHA was able to coordinate daily

standardized coverage for the Observatory and hired a staff Naturalist to lead the count. The count

period was also officially extended to November to better assess the dynamics of late season

migrants. With the help of NH Audubon staff and volunteers, the spectacle and science of raptor

migration has now been shared with tens of thousands of visitors to Carter Hill Orchard. In 2017, the

site completed its 10th consecutive season collecting and submitting migration data to the Hawk

Migration Association of North America (HMANA) – a milestone!

Methods

The methodology for the project has been more-or-less standardized at the two NHA raptor

migration observatories, and remains largely unchanged from previous years. An official counter was

present daily at the count site from September 1st through November 15th, weather permitting. The

count occurred between the hours of 8am EST and 4pm EST from September 1st through November

4th, then from 9am EST to 3pm EST for the remainder of the season. This year, the count season was

extended until November 20th – this five day addendum is not included in most of the seasonal

statistics in order to prevent statistical bias, especially when looking at the 2012-2017 averages.

The majority of migrants were spotted with the unaided eye or with the use of 8X or 10X

binoculars. Scopes were used primarily to aid in the identification of distant migrants, though

volunteers did spend some time scanning with scopes, and any bird of interest found by others was

attempted to be refound, identified, and tallied (if deemed to be an active migrant) by the official

counter. Hourly data was then submitted each day to HMANA’s database at www.hawkcount.org.

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Education and Outreach

At least 8,525 people visited the platform at Carter Hill from September 1st through November

20th. The biggest day for visitors was on October 1st, when 602 visitors were tallied. Many people

came from all corners of the United States and many international locales to enjoy the activities and

scenery of this beautiful New England orchard and raptor observatory.

The following school or educational groups visited Carter Hill Raptor Observatory in 2017:

Joyful Noise Learning Center (Bow, NH)

Henry J. MacLaughlin Middle School (Manchester, NH)

Southern NH University (Hooksett, NH)

Jennie Blake Elementary School (Hill, NH)

Little Harbour School (Portsmouth, NH)

Merrimack Valley High School (Concord, NH)

In addition, these organizations came to the site for organized events:

New Hampshire Audubon – Raptor ID Workshop (Concord, NH)

UNH Cooperative Extension Natural Resource Stewards (Durham, NH)

An outing for Dr. Mark Timmerman’s clients (Merrimack, NH)

Birding group from Tin Mountain Conservation Center (Conway, NH)

Concord Bird and Wildflower Club (Concord, NH)

NHA conducted educational programs for several hundred visitors in 2017. Photo: Phil Brown.

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Events

Raptor Release Day – September 17. 339 visitors (~150 present during time of release). A juvenile

American Kestrel and two juvenile Broad-winged Hawks, which had been rehabilitated by Wings of

the Dawn in Henniker, were returned to the wild during our largest event of the season, which

included live raptor demonstrations, education and display tables, nature walks, and opportunities to

learn raptor observation and identification techniques on the platform.

International Hawk Migration Week – September 16-24. HMANA’s annual weeklong celebration of

raptors included various events such as the Raptor Release, a Hawk ID Workshop, and Live Bird Shows.

Live Raptor Shows – Saturdays in September and October. NHA Educators brought McLane Center

ambassador birds to Carter Hill Orchard on several Saturdays during peak visitor and raptor season,

captivating hundreds of visitors with their stories and education about birds of prey.

Big Sit – October 7. 422 visitors. Forty-seven species were observed from the platform (plus another

two were seen away from the deck, but on orchard property) during the day.

Concord November Challenge – November 4. 68 visitors. Fifty-four species were observed from the

orchard (a possible site record), including several species not seen elsewhere in Concord during this

weekend birding event.

End of year celebration. A celebration for those most closely involved with the project including staff

and volunteers. The event featured a season update by Ken, and a gourmet potluck feast featuring

several dishes made from apples including apple crisp, baked apples, chili with apples, Polish

vegetable salad, pork and apple stew, apple gruyere caramelized onion crostini, and apple cookies.

NHA Education Specialist, Hilary Chapman, sets an American Kestrel free on release day. Photo Jen Esten

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The 2017 Season

Kenneth Klapper, veteran raptor observer and the former staff Naturalist and lead counter at

Pack Monadnock (2011) was the NHA staff Naturalist at Carter Hill this season. Mondays were

covered by Robert Vallieres, Tuesdays by Katrina Fenton, with Paul Bourgault, Dylan Jackson, and

Crawford Lyons filling in coverage on occasion. Phil Brown served as the Raptor Observatory

Coordinator for NHA, where he directed operations and supervised staff at both the Carter Hill and

Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatories, helmed fundraising and promotional efforts, led the Raptor ID

workshop, created educational displays, filled in for the lead counter from time to time, and edited

the final reports.

A total of 6,278 migrant raptors were counted during the Fall 2017 season over 512.5 hours of

effort. Of these, 6,258 migrants were counted between September 1st and November 15th (494.25

hours). An additional 20 migrants were counted during the newly extended period between

November 16th and November 20th (18.25 hours).

Some interesting weather patterns were noted this year. September was generally hot, with

several days that reached or exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit. There were also very few cold fronts.

Since frontal passage is generally tied to strong migration activity, this may have been a factor in the

low totals noted this month – no large (four-figure) count days occurred. Instead a relatively long

period (eight consecutive days) of three-figure daily totals occurred from September 10th through the

17th. The hot, low-wind conditions may have caused many raptors, especially Broad-winged Hawks,

to migrate at higher altitudes – any flying over would have been nearly impossible to observe mid-day

at Carter Hill, while still being detectable at higher ridge sites.

October was generally pleasant, with above average temperatures and continuing warm days.

Overall this had a less notable effect on our totals for the month – probably due to the fact that the

bulk of our migrants (especially Broad-wings) came through in September. However, the shorter days,

and decreasing angle of direct sunlight also generated less thermal lift in October, probably causing

raptors to fly lower.

November’s weather can be a challenge to bear in northern raptor counts; however, the first

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week of November was mostly comfortable. The next few weeks made up for it, though, as chilly

days, high winds, and even our first measurable snow of the season reminded us how quickly

“summer” can turn into “winter” in our region. There are some indications that certain raptor species

delayed migration this year - for example, 81 Sharp-shinned Hawks were tallied in November, more

than twice the total of any previous November. In fact, November 2017 stands out as our highest

count of migrant raptors for any November to date – with 369 individual migrant raptors surpassing

the previous record of 280 set in November 2013. Although that season ended on November 15, if

we remove the 20 birds seen November 16-20 from 2017’s total we still end up with a very

respectable count of 349. A summary of the 2017 season totals (excluding the late November

extension) and their departures from Carter Hill historic averages can be found in Table 1.

Table 1. Tallies of regular season (Sept 1- Nov 15) migrant raptors at Carter Hill Observatory,

with comparisons to both 10-year (2008-2017) and 6-year (2012-2017) averages.

Species 2017

Total

10-yr

Average

% Change 6-yr

Average

% Change

Turkey Vulture 429 252 +70% 283 +52%

Osprey 131 125 +5% 159 -18%

Bald Eagle 96 79 +21% 102 -6%

Northern Harrier 52 53 -3% 74 -30%

Sharp-shinned Hawk 866 733 +18% 1035 -16%

Cooper’s Hawk 107 140 -23% 141 -24%

Northern Goshawk 6 14 -58% 17 -64%

Red-shouldered Hawk 87 37 +133% 57 +52%

Broad-winded Hawk 3842 4778 -20% 5331 -28%

Red-tailed Hawk 209 183 +15% 265 -21%

Rough-legged Hawk 1 0.6 +67% 0.7 +50%

Golden Eagle 5 1.5 +233% 2.2 +131%

American Kestrel 242 178 +36% 240 +1%

Merlin 51 53 -3% 60 -15%

Peregrine Falcon 21 22 -5% 27 -23%

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Species Accounts

The following accounts give migration details for each migrant raptor species observed at

Carter Hill Raptor Observatory this season. Numbers followed by an asterisk (*) denote a new record

for the site. Totals from the extended count period of November 16-20 are listed separately.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Season Total: 429* High Count: 59 (October 13) November 16-20: 0

Turkey Vulture migration has been increasing for several years now, presumably due to this

species’ ever-expanding breeding populations in the Northeast. This year’s total of 429 represents a

70% increase over our 10-year average of 252. Such trends have been seen regionally, with raptor

migration sites such as Pack Monadnock, Clarry Hill, and Wachusett Mountain also reporting record

tallies this season. Although no single-day records were set at Carter Hill for this species, a strong

flight of 59 vultures on October 13 was the third-highest single-day count in our ten-year history. It is

also noteworthy that 20 Turkey Vultures were seen migrating in November, another site record.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Season Total: 131 High Count: 12 (September 4) November 16-20: 0

Osprey migration proved to be average this year, but we were glad to see a rebound from

2016’s recent low of 90 individuals to a respectable 131 this year. Counts for this species seemed to

plateau from 2012-2014, with a general decrease since then. This may be due to a displacement of

Osprey by increasing populations of Bald Eagles, a larger, stronger niche competitor – however,

further research is needed to analyze these population trends. No particularly strong flights of Osprey

were seen this year, and only on two days did migrant counts barely exceed single digits (12 on

September 4, and 10 on September 13). As is the norm for this long-distance migrant (many winter in

South America), the majority of individuals were seen in September (113 of 131), and the remainder

in October, with the last “fish hawk” of the season tallied on October 21.

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Bald Eagle. Photo: Lillian Stokes

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Season Total: 96 High Count: 6 (9/21, 10/3, 11/7) November 16-20: 0

Bald Eagle breeding populations continue to expand in New Hampshire, with 2017 setting a

new record for numbers of territories, as well as fledged young (C. Martin, 2017 NH Bald Eagle

Breeding Season Final Report). In fact, this species was removed from the state list of threatened

species in March 2017, a testament to its recovery over the last few decades. As a migrant, this

species continued with fairly strong numbers, coming in at just under 100 for the season – our total of

96 was 21% greater than our ten-year average, but a bit lower than our more recent six-year average

of 102. Our best counts of six migrants in a single day occurred three times, once each in September,

October, and November, illustrating the broad migratory period utilized by this species. Unlike the

clear upward trend at Pack Monadnock, however, recent migratory numbers for this species seem

somewhat stable since 2013 at Carter Hill (following the banner migration year in 2012, when 152

were counted) suggesting that perhaps newer migrant individuals may be following ridgelines rather

than watercourses as a leading line in migration. Of course, many other factors may be contributing to

these observations. One particular challenge at Carter Hill is the discernment of migrant versus non-

migrant Bald Eagles. At least three pairs of adults maintain territories within several miles of the

Observatory, and various immature birds may stay in the area for short to moderate periods – all

attracted to the confluence of two major river systems (the Merrimack and the Contoocook) as well

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as numerous lakes and ponds. Because of this, the counters at Carter Hill were very conservative

when including eagles as official migrants, especially with adults or immatures showing plumages

known to match local birds. Only southbound birds which seemed to exhibit the behaviors typical of a

migrant (a more-or-less direct flight, e.g.) were counted.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

Season Total: 52 High Count: 5 (9/22 & 11/4) November 16-20: 1

The season count for Northern Harrier (endangered as a breeding species in NH) was 52 this

year, just under the 10-year average of 53, and notably lower than the six-year average of 74 – in fact,

this was the lowest season count since our standardized protocol commenced in 2012. Similar trends

at Pack Monadnock may point to the need for research on our local breeding populations for this at-

risk species. However, this broad period migrant often shows strong flights in the mid- to late-season.

The mild late-season weather may have lulled some “Marsh Hawks” into staying north of us, and

perhaps some migrated after our count ended on November 20th.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

Season Total: 866 High Count: 70 (October 11) November 16-20: 2

Our tiniest accipiter, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, is the member of this genus seen in the largest

numbers. This small, but often remarkably aggressive raptor is a breeder of the northern woodlands

which generally migrates just south of our region, with some lingering around towns and rural

wooded areas where concentrations of small songbirds may sustain them. The season total of 866

was another rebound from last year’s low count (since data standardization) of 551, but over 150

short of our 6-year recent average of 1,035 birds per season. While migrant totals for this species

have traditionally been fairly stable at Pack Monadnock, we have seen a bit more variability over the

years at Carter Hill. Our high count of 70 birds (October 11), while not a record day, shows that given

the right conditions, “sharpies” can put in some exciting flights at Carter Hill!

Sharp-shinned Hawk. Photo: Raven.Digital

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Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Season Total: 107 High Count: 12 (October 22) November 16-20: 1

The Cooper’s Hawk, a medium-sized accipiter sometimes called the “Chicken Hawk”, showed a

dip in numbers this season – the total of 107 was our lowest count since records began in 2008. This

trend does not appear to be reflected at Pack Monadnock – perhaps the flight conditions this year

(milder days, lower winds) encouraged more small to medium-sized accipiters to migrate at higher

altitudes or along ridgelines.

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Season Total: 6 High Count: 2 (October 16 & 17) November 16-20: 0

While the migratory patterns of Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks may be debatable, the

across the board low numbers of Northern Goshawks in the East this season are not. This species (our

largest, but least common accipiter) is always exciting to see, but our tally of just six birds was the

lowest since 2008 – so they were a rare find indeed this year. As a caveat, it must be noted that the

official count period was not extended into November during the 2008-2010 seasons, and only a few

hours were logged in early November of 2011. This is crucial, because November is a month when

this late-season migrant is often tallied in significant numbers. Low counts were also the norm this

season at Pack Monadnock (15, the lowest since 2005), Putney Mountain (seven birds, also the lowest

since 2005), and Hawk Mountain (where the season total of three birds ties the record for the lowest

count in the Sanctuary’s 84 year history). While the populations and presumably migrant numbers for

this species are cyclical, responding to the density of their prey populations, these critically low

numbers may represent a red-flag, indicating a need for increased population research.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

Season Total: 87 High Count: 18 (October 4 & 7) November 16-20: 0

The Red-shouldered Hawk, an uncommon buteo of wet forest habitats, put in a strong

showing this year, not only at Carter Hill, but also regionally. Our season total of 87 was 133% higher

than our ten-year average and 52% higher than our recent six-year average. While this still wasn’t

enough to set a new season record (that honor goes to the 100 birds counted in 2012) or single day

flight (although second and third place go to this year’s counts of 18 on both November 4 and 7), this

year’s second place status is still part of an interesting story of remarkable record single day flights

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seen at locations such as Pack Monadnock and Quaker Ridge, Connecticut. While not all regional

raptor watch sites experienced the same impressive movements, we hope that this may be the

beginning of an upward trend for this once state-threatened species.

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

Season Total: 3,842 High Count: 691 (September 15) November 16-20: 0

While some sites (e.g. Putney Mountain) had a record setting year for Broad-winged Hawks,

and others (e.g. Pack Monadnock) had a fairly average year, Carter Hill experienced a lower-than-

average flight of this species, which has a dedicated following among raptor enthusiasts. Our tally of

3,842 was 20% below the ten-year average count, and 28% below the more recent six-year average.

This total was the lowest since 2012 (a year when many species’ records were shattered, but which

had a very low season total for Broad-wings). What does this tell us about Broad-winged Hawk

populations? Not much. A quick look at the long-term dataset of Broad-winged numbers at almost

any raptor count site in the Northeast will show a great deal of variability – that this species will be

seen if winds are blowing just right, and the flow of birds just happens to be close enough and low

enough to detect. No four-figure days were experienced at Carter Hill this year (the first time since

2010), but some nice flights and low looks at kettles containing scores of this remarkable species were

an awesome sight to those who happened to be on the platform at just the right moment. Our best

days were in mid-September, when over 600 birds were tallied on both the 15th and the 16th. As usual,

daily totals of this small buteo, a long-distance migrant that usually winters in South America,

diminished in October, when only 10 more were counted, the last on 13th.

A rehabilitated immature Broad-winged Hawk takes to the skies for the first time! Photo: Jen Esten

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Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Season Total: 209 High Count: 52 (November 7) November 16-20: 15

Red-tailed Hawks were seen in average numbers this year, but our total of 209 is a good

rebound from the 169 seen in 2016, and 15% higher than our ten-year average, but still 21% less than

our six-year average (this latter statistic is important for this late-season species because November

counting only began in earnest in 2012). As with the other late-season migrants, the mild fall weather

may have delayed some Red-tails from moving south until after the count period ended. A good flight

on November 7 of 52 individuals became the third highest single-day record for the site.

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)

Season Total: 1 High Count: 1 (November 14) November 16-20: 0

A large buteo from the arctic tundra, the Rough-legged Hawk is not seen every year at Carter

Hill, and usually just once – making this species one of the most desired of our “regular” migrants for

visitors who appreciate rarity over mass spectacle. This year’s bird, a light morph, flew steadily across

the southern edge of the orchard on a chilly November 14th afternoon, and then perched on an

impossibly thin hemlock crown (an iconic behavior of this species). Before last year's single individual,

none had been counted since 2012, so we hope for the sake of lovers of rare, late season large

raptors that this trend continues!

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

Season Total: 5* High Count: 4* (November 7) November 16-20: 0

This was a remarkable year for Golden Eagles at Carter Hill, a species that is not detected every

season (they’ve now been seen six years out of ten). The first was seen on October 24, when a

juvenile was spotted late in the day. However, this could not prepare our staff, friends, and followers

for what happened on November 7, when four were seen (including two together just after noon),

setting a new historic single day high count not only for the site, but also for the state of New

Hampshire! This incredible day also brought the biggest Red-tailed Hawk flight of the season, was

one of the record days for Red-shouldered Hawks and Bald Eagles, and marked the first occurrence of

Sandhill Cranes for the season.

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American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Season Total: 242 High Count: 22 (September 15) November 16-20: 0

This year’s total of 242 is well above the 10-year average (by 36%) but very close to the recent

six-year average of 240. It is good to see tallies improve after lackluster totals in 2015 and 2016, but

this species has a long way to go to recover to numbers seen before the turn of the 21st century. The

bulk of this year’s flight came through between September 12-23 (when 122, or just over half of the

season’s total was counted), but significant numbers also came through in October (99 birds) with the

last “Sparrow Hawk” of the season tallied on October 28.

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Season Total: 51 High Count: 7 (September 15) November 16-20: 0

This year’s tally of 51 Merlins was just slightly under our 10-year average of 53, but a bit lower

(by 15%) than our six-year average of 60. Coincidentally, the months of September and October each

showed tallies of 24 birds… plus, three more were added in November (including a new record late

date of November 14th!)

Merlin. Photo: Raven.Digital

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Season Total: 21 High Count: 4 (September 27) November 16-20: 0

This year’s count of Peregrine Falcons (“the fastest animal on earth”) was right in line with our

10-year average as well as totals from the last few years, but down a bit from our recent six-year

average (by 23%). Breeding populations appear to be slowly increasing in New Hampshire (C. Martin,

2017 NH Peregrine Falcon Breeding Season Results) and Pack Monadnock had a good year for

Peregrine migrants, so this may not indicate a significant trend.

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Non-raptor Species (plus one nocturnal raptor)

Aside from the 15 migrant raptor species noted above, 105 additional species or other unique

avian taxa were observed at Carter Hill this season (Table 2). Several of these deserve special

mention: Brant (two occasions: second and third site records, and a new high count of 28), American

Wigeon (first site record), 18 Sandhill Cranes (new high count), three yellowlegs sp. (first site record),

three swan sp. (first site record), Carolina Wren (first site record), Wilson’s Warbler (first site record),

Clay-colored Sparrow (third site record), and Dickcissel (first site record). A reasonable attempt was

made to accurately tally Canada Geese and monarch butterflies. The former had a good showing,

with 4,092 individuals counted, and the latter, a species whose dramatic recent declines have alarmed

both the general public as well as the scientific community, had a great rebound year with 551

counted (including several observations in early November), up from the very low totals observed in

recent years.

Table 2. Additional species/taxa identified at Carter Hill, the first and last dates they were observed, the number of

days each species occurred, and single-day high counts.

Species Scientific Name Dates Observed Occurrences Single-Day High

Brant Branta bernicla 10/31-11/1 2 28 (11/1)

Canada Goose Branta canadensis 9/2-11/19 38 1044 (9/29)

swan sp. Cygnus sp. 10/31 1 3

Wood Duck Aix sponsa 10/7 1 3

American Wigeon Mareca americana 10/14 1 1

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 9/10-11/15 24 37 (11/14)

American Black Duck Anas rubripes 9/19-11/15 10 7 (11/5)

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 11/4 1 3

Black Scoter Melanitta americana 11/3 1 14

Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus 11/17 1 5

Common Merganser Mergus merganser 11/4-11/19 7 14 (11/4)

Common Loon Gavia immer 9/1-11/7 13 3 (9/8)

Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus 9/2-10/21 15 135 (9/30)

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 9/2-10/7 3 2 (9/12)

Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis 11/7-11/11 3 18 (11/11)

American Woodcock Scolopax minor 11/4 1 1

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria 9/10 1 1

yellowlegs sp. T. melanoleuca/flavipes 9/2 1 3

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis 9/16-11/19 28 34 (11/19)

Herring Gull Larus argentatus 9/19-11/17 11 7 (9/22)

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 9/1-11/4 31 10 (9/20)

Barred Owl Strix varia 9/27 1 1

Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor 9/2-9/9 5 127 (9/4)

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Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica 9/2-9/21 6 3 (9/15)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 9/1-9/19 14 8 (9/7)

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 9/13-10/13 6 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus 9/12-10/29 7 1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 9/12-10/11 7 1

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens 9/2-11/18 39 2 (9/13)

Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 9/12-11/18 27 1

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 9/7-11/9 31 4 (9/15)

Pileated Woodpecker Drycopus pileatus 9/2-11/15 37 4 (10/25)

Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens 9/26 1 1

“Traill’s” Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum/traillii 9/13 1 1

Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 9/1 1 1

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe 9/1-10/13 19 3 (9/13)

Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 9/13-10/14 11 2 (9/17)

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus 9/13-9/21 2 2 (9/13)

Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata 9/7-11/19 64 123 (10/3)

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos 9/1-11/19 56 386 (11/4)

Common Raven Corvus corax 9/1-11/18 63 33 (10/17)

Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris 11/4-11/15 5 8 (11/5)

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor 9/9 1 5

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 9/1-9/9 6 7 (9/9)

Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus 9/2-11/18 30 4 (multiple dates)

Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor 9/17-11/12 19 2 (11/1)

Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis 10/1 1 1

White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis 9/15-11/4 11 1

Brown Creeper Certhia americana 10/7-11/4 3 1

House Wren Troglodytes aedon 9/2-9/19 6 1

Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis 10/4 1 1

Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus 11/4 1 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa 10/7-11/4 4 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula 9/29-10/20 12 4 (10/5)

Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 9/1-11/19 34 11 (11/7)

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus 10/6-11/1 3 1

American Robin Turdus migratorius 9/1-11/18 63 982 (11/1)

Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 9/1-10/19 30 3 (10/1)

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris 9/7-11/19 23 24 (11/5)

American Pipit Anthus rubescens 9/15-11/4 5 2 (11/4)

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum 9/1-11/18 47 130 (11/1)

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis 11/4-11/18 4 14 (11/12)

Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 9/7 1 1

Tennessee Warbler Oreothylpis peregrina 9/9 1 1

Nashville Warbler Oreothylpis ruficapilla 9/1 1 1

Common Yellowthroat Geothylpis trichas 9/1-10/3 16 3 (9/17)

American Redstart Setaphaga ruticilla 9/13 1 1

Cape May Warbler Setaphaga tigrina 9/9-9/29 2 1

Northern Parula Setaphaga americana 9/2-10/3 6 2 (9/23)

Magnolia Warbler Setaphaga magnolia 9/7-9/29 3 1

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Chestnut-sided Warbler Setaphaga pensylvanica 9/2 1 1

Blackpoll Warbler Setaphaga striata 9/12-10/13 6 7 (9/12)

Black-throated Blue Warbler Setaphaga caerulescens 9/12-9/27 3 1

Palm Warbler Setaphaga palmarum 9/17-10/14 6 2 (10/3)

Pine Warbler Setaphaga pinus 9/7-10/4 9 1

Yellow-rumped Warbler Setaphaga coronata 9/16-11/4 34 11 (10/17)

Black-throated Green Warbler Setaphaga virens 9/1-9/26 4 1

Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla 9/26-9/27 2 1

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina 9/1-11/12 55 50 (9/26)

Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida 10/3-10/5 2 1

Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla 9/7-10/20 5 1

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca 11/4 1 1

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 9/26-11/19 24 19 (11/1)

White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys 9/26-10/22 15 7 (10/3)

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis 9/16-11/4 36 30 (9/26)

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis 9/10-11/4 24 6 (9/26)

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 9/1-11/18 50 60 (10/3)

Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii 9/10-10/20 20 9 (10/3)

Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana 9/15-11/4 17 12 (10/3)

Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus 10/3 1 1

Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea 9/1-10/6 8 2 (9/19)

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 9/1-11/18 34 2 (multiple dates)

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 9/1-10/7 23 7 (9/15)

Dickcissel Spiza americana 9/7 1 1

Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus 9/1-9/2 2 2 (9/2)

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 10/3-11/14 11 47 (11/14)

Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater 10/14-11/14 3 6 (11/4)

Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus 10/14-11/4 2 1

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula 10/3-11/14 14 300 (10/3)

House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus 9/1-11/4 29 8 (10/20)

Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus 9/7-11/9 13 4 (11/3)

Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 9/12 1 1

Pine Siskin Spinus pinus 10/5-10/31 4 3 (10/31)

American Goldfinch Spinus tristis 9/1-11/18 56 152 (11/18)

House Sparrow Passer domesticus 9/1-11/18 25 5 (10/12)

Acknowledgements

This project would not be possible without an outstanding team of people who have

generously donated their time, space, equipment, and of course, funds. Our ongoing thanks goes to

Rob and Annette Larocque, and their family, for hosting this project at their family home and business,

and for working with us to ensure another successful season. A team of volunteer counters was

essential to help cover Ken’s days off – this talented and big-hearted group includes Paul Bourgault,

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Katrina Fenton, Dylan Jackson, Crawford Lyons, and Robert Vallieres. Those “regulars” who visited –

lending their eyes, interacting with visitors, and even providing a cookie or doughnut to help keep

morale (or at least caloric intake) high are the heart of our little community of raptor lovers – whether

you visited once or twenty times, brought a treat or just yourselves, spotted a kettle of 100 or “just a

crow”, our thanks goes out to Ken Bednars, Mike Bourgault, Tom Brewton, Kathleen Brockett, Sara

Cairns, Richard Chipman, Dick DeSeve, Jen Frost, Faye Grearson, Harold Janeway, Ted Kendziora,

Maureen Joyce, Steve Manifold, Tom McShane, Sylvia Miskoe, Judd Nathan, Geoff Niswander, Kevin

and Nan O’Neil, Cliff Otto, Mark Suomala, Mark Timmerman, and Kim Tuttle. A most heartfelt thanks

goes out to Hilary Thomson and Tom Fredenburg, who once again provided housing and a family-

away-from-home for the staff Naturalist this year. To the staff and trustees of NH Audubon – thank

you for helping with many aspects of the project – whether you made time to help with Raptor

Release Day, the Big Sit, led school groups, helped with paperwork, or just dropped by to say hi, you

are all greatly appreciated: Doug Bechtel, Shelby Bernier, Lynn Bouchard, Madeline Champlin, Hilary

Chapman, Dave Howe, Pam Hunt, Chris Martin, Ruth Smith, Becky Suomala, and Kevin Wall. Finally –

thank you to the thousands of visitors who came by, asked about the history and mystery of raptor

migration, and perhaps helped a child spot their first raptor, sparking a lifetime of wonder and

learning.

2017 Staff Naturalist/Lead Counter Ken Klapper prepares for lunch (or possibly baseball season).

Photo: Phil Brown (taken on the unseasonably cold opening day of September 1st)

Note: the gloves and jacket would not be needed again for a few months.