Date: 12/21/25 7:46 am From: 'Phil Brown' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Pittsburg CBC results
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, a record-high twenty participantsconducted the 75th annual Pittsburg Christmas Bird Count. This count wasstarted in 1950 and has missed only one year between then and now.
Observers in seven parties covered 203.85miles, including 22.35 by foot/ski, and spent 48.4 party hours in thefield. This increased effort allowed coverage of Hall Stream Road, which represented about 25% of all individuals counted and contributed seven unique species to the overall tally. All combined, counters tallied a respectable, above-average total of 36 birdspecies on count day. Even with the increased coverage, the total of 1,030 individual birds was well below therecent average.
Temperatures were on the warm side (between 20-32 F) with partlycloudy to cloudy skies and variable winds ranging from calm to 15 mph. Lightsnow fell later in the afternoon. Still water was frozen, while rivers and largerstreams were partly open. Snow amounts were highly variable, ranging from 2” insouthern parts of town to 26” of snow in the East Inlet and northern Rt. 3areas.
No new species were added to the all-time count listthis year, and no additional count week species were found.
A record-high count was noted for just one species: WildTurkey (80), with a record-tying count set for Northern Saw-whetOwl (2).
Irruptives and other northern species werewell-represented, but some were generally present in low numbers. Theseincluded American Goshawk (2), Black-backed Woodpecker (2; first since 2013),Northern Shrike (2), Canada Jay (30), Boreal Chickadee (7), Red-breastedNuthatch (54), Golden-crowned Kinglet (20), Snow Bunting (15), Pine Grosbeak (40),Red Crossbill (7), Common Redpoll (1), Pine Siskin (2), American Goldfinch (46),and Evening Grosbeak (201).
Black-capped Chickadees (159) posted their lowest totalssince 1985, and Boreal Chickadees (7) were also low. Birds were generallysparsely distributed through woodlands. Teams reported low single digits ofchickadees together, and chickadees were more concentrated at feeders.
The five most numerous bird species on the count wereEvening Grosbeak (201), Black-capped Chickadee (159), Wild Turkey (80), BlueJay (69), and American Crow (58). Species seen at least on half of all countsbut missed this year were Mourning Dove, White-winged Crossbill, PurpleFinch, and House Sparrow.
Mammal observations included a visual observation of anAmerican Marten, Ermine, and Snowshoe Hare, among other usual detections ofspecies and tracks.
We welcomed FIVE new participants to the PittsburgCBC this year. Thanks to ALL the participants who kept this count going strongfor yet another year:
Chris Martin, Bob Quinn, Glen Chretien, Lori-Ann Chretien, AlanChretien, Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, Lori Charron, Paul Charron, JoanneDionne, Tom Young, Dave Young, Ella Young, Jim McCoy, Chris Howe, Craig Repasz,Christin Arnini, Dan Gardoqui, and Matt Tarr.
