My apologies for not getting this out yesterday, since I'm SURE everyone was dying to hear where our ten stalwart contenders stand. Wait no longer! The votes are in, even the ones awaiting review, and...
Strafford County has regained a narrow lead (still using the traditional scoring system) with 66.3% to Belknap's 66.0%. How's THAT for a nail-biter. Sullivan remains in third with 64.9%. As for my home team of Merrimack, the choke is alive and well. Not only did Coos pull ahead as predicted, but even "dark horse" Cheshire inched ahead by 0.1%. Even our star player, the adult male Bullock's Oriole in Hooksett, has been observed playing for arch-rival Hillsborough (the county line is literally across the street!). At this point I'd like to thank Carroll County for their noble sacrifice this November to make me fell a little better (which probably means I've jinxed myself, sigh).
Here, as always, are the rankings (total species, and ranks from the previous three updates)
1) Strafford (124, 1-1-2)
2) Belknap (93, 2-2-1)
3) Sullivan (87, 3-4-3) (this includes "peep sp.)
4) Hillsborough (105, 7-3-4)
5) Grafton (104, 8-7-6)
6) Rockingham (150, 4-5-5)
7) Coos (81, 9-8-8)
8) Cheshire (93, 6-9-9)
9) Merrimack (105, 5-6-7)
10) Carroll (75, 10-10-10)
As far as the other metrics, Strafford retains its lead in all three, while Grafton consistently places second. Third place would be either Belknap, Hillsborough, or Sullivan. Not a lot of shaking up going on.
But there is a fun math fact when I compare some characteristics of the four systems. The variation among the ten counties, as measured by both standard deviation and range, is LESS for the traditional system compared to the other three. In other words, the best and worse counties are closer to each other using the old system than any of the new ones. That must mean something.
With a nice bit of precipitation coming up, here's hoping some fun waterbirds show up inland. I strongly encourage birders in all counties other than Merrimack to stay home though. We need every advantage we can get.
The final update will be heading into the final stretch right before Thanksgiving. Has everyone got Wild Turkey?
