This weekend is a special one for NH Audubon and the perfect time to share your love of birds. From Dark-eyed Juncos hopping beneath feeders to nuthatches hanging upside down in search of seeds, these familiar visitors are a part of what makes winter special. This weekend, NH Audubon invites you to turn those everyday observations into valuable scientific data to track winter bird populations across the state.
On February 14–15, we invite you to be part of the excitement by joining the 39th annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey, a beloved NH Audubon tradition and one of the state’s longest-running participatory science projects.
The idea is simple: spend a little time counting the birds (and yes, squirrels!) you see in your backyard over Valentine’s Weekend and submit your data online. Count for 15 minutes or an entire afternoon. Watch from your window or head outside, coffee or hot chocolate encouraged. Every observation helps paint a clearer picture of how New Hampshire’s winter birds are faring.
This year, participating comes with something new to explore. We’ve launched a brand-new Backyard Winter Bird Survey website, where decades of observations come to life. Visitors can browse annual reports, explore photo galleries, and dig into 38 years of data, including population trends for 20 common winter species. Each species page offers identification tips, look-alike species, and simple ways to help birds through the winter. We are grateful to the Davis and Butler Foundations for making this new resource possible.
“The Backyard Winter Bird Survey is for everyone, whether this is your first year or your tenth,” said Grace McCulloch, Community Science Project Leader at NH Audubon. “There is always something new to discover, and every count adds to our understanding of how New Hampshire’s winter birds are responding to changes in climate and habitat.”
For many participants, the survey is the start of a birding journey. Beginner-friendly guides make it easy to get started, and photographers are invited to share what they see through our new photo page. Images may be featured in the 2026 Backyard Winter Bird Survey photo gallery.
Every year brings surprises. In 2025, eight participants reported Baltimore Orioles, a species rarely seen in New Hampshire during winter. With talk of an Evening Grosbeak irruption this season, we’re especially curious to see what you’ll discover.
Last year, 1,953 people took part, counting 10,490 Dark-eyed Juncos statewide. With your help, we hope to surpass that milestone again and learn which species will top the list in 2026.
If you’d like a refresher before the count (or want help with bird identification) watch our recorded webinar, which will provide all the details. You can also read instructions on our website.
Participation is completely free, but if you’d like to further support this important project, donations can be made here.
Learn more, view instructions, and submit your data at backyardwinterbirds.nhaudubon.org.
This Valentine’s Weekend, slow down, look outside, and share a little love with New Hampshire’s winter birds. We can’t wait to see what you find!
Email bwbs@nhaudubon.org with any questions. Thank you for joining us in making a difference for New Hampshire’s birds!