Great Backyard Bird Count

Cardinal in crabapple tree

This is the fourth year I have participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), an international event led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society and Bird Studies Canada.
I look forward to spending a weekend examining the every day birds that visit our backyard feeders. Over three days, I only observed nine species, and of the birds that did stop by, there seemed to be fewer of them. Birds that I have seen in the past that were missing included the Red-bellied woodpecker, sparrows and finches. I am not sure of the reason for this. Could the relatively mild winter have adjusted their range? Or, could the fact that the squirrels devoured most of the fruits and berries from our trees during the fall, and continue to overpopulate our feeders, contributed to fewer birds at our feeders. I do not know.

One species that did arrive in record numbers was the Eastern Wild Turkey which showed up in a flock of 19. This is not surprising, as their numbers in New Hampshire are increasing. According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game winter turkey flock survey, 20,244 birds were recorded in 2018. Turkeys feed on nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetation and like to visit feeders for nutrient rich sunflower seeds.

Female Wild Turkey

Turkey tracks look like arrows going in the opposite direction that the bird is traveling

Our old pear tree harbors a lot of insects. This, combined with a suet feeder, attracts woodpeckers and nuthatches.

White-breasted Nuthatch (left) and  Hairy Woodpecker (on suet) and Downy Woodpecker (right)

The photo on the right above shows the size difference between the larger Hairy Woodpecker on the left and the male Downy Woodpecker on the right. We had a pair of each species visit over the weekend. The Red-bellied Woodpecker which has been a frequent visitor over the past few years has not been seen this winter.

Juncos, which are typically appear in groups, were observed, but only one to three at a time.

One lone junco

It was an unspectacular weekend with few sightings, but participating in the GBBC provides an  opportunity to contribute to science by documenting bird populations and their movements. It's also an opportunity to spend a little extra time and appreciate even common birds more fully.

Mourning Dove resting comfortably in the snow.

Thousands of Crows Put on a Show

Crows staging along the Merrimack River, Lawrence, Massachusetts

You may not think that spending an evening in freezing temperatures to watch crows would be a desirable activity, but that's exactly what my husband and I did this past Sunday.

A special evening to learn about these corvids was held in Lawrence, Massachusetts and was sponsored by the Merrimack River Watershed Council, Merrimack Valley Bird Club  and Andover Village Improvement Society. It was aptly named "River in the Sky-Our Merrimack of Wintering Crows." The event which quickly "sold out" was attended by a variety of individuals from avid birders to those who were just curious as to why anyone would want to watch crows. Before heading out into the field, we  gathered at the Essex Art Center where a gallery of photos and artwork was displayed. We listened to talks by the sponsors and Craig Gibson, an area photographer and member of the Lawrence "Crow Patrol."  When we saw a presentation given by Dana Duxbury-Fox and Bob Fox, veteran birders who have been observing the crows along the Merrimack River for the past few years.

If you don't already know, crows are highly intelligent, but also very social birds. This is evident in the fact that some migrate hundreds of miles from their summer breeding grounds, to gather in large groups during the winter. These winter roosting sites can number in the tens of thousands. Although these large roosting areas have been documented for centuries, the reasons for this behavior is not well understood. It is believed that one reason they congregate in such large groups is that it provides protection from predators. In recent years, crows seem to be selecting urban areas more for their winter roosting sites. One such city is Lawrence, Massachusetts, where the crows have been returning each winter for numerous years. The Fox's and Craig Gibson have begun to monitor their behavior. You can follow their research and observations at wintercrowroost.com.

Around 4:00 PM we drove to the anticipated staging area, the Abe Bashara Boathouse, 1 Eaton Street. Staging is what the birds do before settling in for their final resting spot of the evening. It provides an opportunity for all the birds to arrive at a central location. This process starts about an hour before sunset and lasts until approximately a half hour after sunset. Although the exact location of where the crows begin staging can change each night, we were fortunate that the boathouse location proved to be the perfect spot to view them on Sunday.

Craig Gibson describes to the group the crows staging behavior

When we first arrived, the first thing we saw were two bald eagles circling overhead. I took this as a sign that it was going to be a good night of bird watching. We saw several eagles after that and for the most part, the crows and the eagles left each other alone. However as dusk approached, groups of crows were seen chasing the eagles away.

Crows and a bald eagle sharing the trees in the early evening

At first, the crows arrived in small groups, but as the sun began to set, they could be seen approaching in waves of hundreds or maybe thousands. Some settled in trees on either side of the river, and some landed on the ice where the river was frozen. It has been documented that the crows are arriving from locations up to 20 miles away, where they have been foraging for food during the day. This is quite an amazing feat when you consider all the energy they must expend to do this.

Most of the crows settled in the trees, but some were more interested in gathering on the ice.

It was fascinating to watch and listen to them, as they were quite noisy, especially when a group  would decide that it was time to move. For some unknown reason, a large group would all take flight at once, circle over the river and then land on the other side.

Trees filled up with crows

We decided to leave before finding out whether or not this would be their final roosting spot, but our frozen toes told us it was time to go. We bid the birds farewell and left with a much better appreciation of these amazing birds and wonder at how marvelous Nature can be. Sometime in March the crows will disperse to their normal breeding grounds, so if you know of a roosting area where you live, I recommend visiting it some evening soon. You will not be disappointed.

Evening sunset colors along the Merrimack River

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Boats

Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas with a tossed salad

You can't get much easier for a quick meal than this recipe for one. Simply multiply by the number of people you would like to serve.

Ingredients
1 sweet potato washed and cut in half
1 small can chick peas rinsed
1/2 cup marinara sauce
1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped or other fresh herbs
Olive oil

Brush the tops of the potato halves with olive oil and bake at 375 degrees until soft (30 - 60 minutes depending on the size). Cool slightly. Mix the chickpeas with the dill, spinach and a drizzle of olive oil. Scoop out a small amount of potato in the center and fill with the chickpea mixture. Spread the marinara on top and back an additional 10 - 12 minutes. Serve immediately. 

Reading List for 2019

The Christmas decorations have been put away, so now, it's time to look ahead and plan for 2019. A common New Year's resolution  is to "set aside time to read more." Although I don't officially make New Year's resolutions, I do want to read more and I will be happy if I can get through the stack of books that is currently on my night stand. The above picture shows what I hope to read in the months ahead. Some I have been meaning to get to for some time, others were gifts, and a couple were picked up at used book stores this past year. Here are the three books which I aim to read first.

I have already started The Town that Food Saved by Ben Hewitt, 2010. This book tells how local agriculture transformed the northern Vermont town called Hardwick. I'm excited to learn about this story and to then follow-up with a visit to this community.

The Hucksters by Federic Wakeman, 1946. As an old movie buff, particularly Clark Gable and Cary Grant movies, I love searching book and antique stores for memorabilia. The Hucksters is a 1947 movie with Clark Gable and Deborah Kerr, so I am excited to read the book upon which this classic film is based.

The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down by Howard Mansfield, 2018. This book was given to me as a Christmas gift and I look forward to reading about property rights and how those rights can be challenged by those who happen to have more money and consequently hold more power.

The days have already started to get longer, and this week begins the shift toward earlier sunrises. But for the next couple of months ahead, I'm going to enjoy the cold and darkness by curling up on the couch with a few good books. 

Winery Tours in New Hampshire

Happy Holidays and Welcome 2019. To conclude 2018, ten New Hampshire Wineries Coordinated a fun Holiday Event by hosting special wine tastings during the month of December. We were able to visit six locations over two weekends. It was a unique way to see different parts of the state. The following is a description of the family-owned vineyards we visited.

Zorvino Vineyards, Sandown

This vineyard was established in 2004, and currently has about 2000 vines on 80 acres. It was the largest vineyard that we visited. Zorvino's has a large tasting room and gift shop that offers a wide

Entrance to Zorvino Vineyards

 variety of wines, including fruit and vegetable blends. Even if you aren't a wine connoisseur, you most likely will find a wine to enjoy. They also has a large post and beam barn which they use for hosting weddings and other functions. It was a great place to start our tour.

Flag Hill Distillery and Winery, Lee

Products Sourced by Flag Hill Winery

This 110 permanently conserved property was converted from a dairy farm to a vineyard in 1987, making it the oldest vineyard that we visited. In 2004 they expanded their operation to include spirits. The owners, Brian and Maddie Ferguson grow grapes, grain and vegetables on the property which are are all used to make into their wines, spirits and culinary dishes. The tasting included a sampling of wines and spirits as well as three of their delicious made meatballs. All their ingredients are either grown on site, or are sourced locally in New England.

Sweet Baby Vineyard, Hampstead

Sweet Baby Vineyard began operations in 2008, and moved to its current location in 2016, where they aspire to plant 1500 vines. They clearly have a love for the business. They have a spacious wine tasting facility, which had plenty of room for our baby granddaughter to stretch her legs. We were pleasantly pleased when they brought out brownie sundaes as part of the Jingle Bell Tour.

Entering the Tasting Room at Sweet Baby Vineyard

 Averill House Vineyard, Brookline

Entrance to Averill House Vineyard

Just as the sun was setting we made it to our last stop of the first day - Averill House Vineyard, the newest winery on the tour which has only been in operation for a few years. Although they currently  offer a limited selection, the wines we tried were good and unique, including their cherry and coffee flavored wine. In addition to participating in the Jingle Bell Tour, they also hosted dinner and crafting events in 2018. I predict a bright future for this small family run operation.

Haunting Whisper Vineyard and Spirits, Danbury

This past weekend, my son, who was visiting for the Christmas Holiday, and I decided to check out two more wineries. The first was in Danbury, about an hour drive north of Concord. It was nice to see a little snow on the ground, since December has been mostly wet instead of white.

View from Haunting Whisper Vineyard

Haunting Whisper opened to the public in 2009. They are located on a hill which have beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Inside the tasting room, you can see where the wine and spirits are made. If you are looking for a picturesque place to visit in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, I recommend checking out Haunting Whisper which will reopen in May.

Appolo Vineyards, Derry

Our last stop was to Appolo Vineyards which was established in 2004. Although not as large as some of the other vineyards we visited, they had an intimate tasting room next to the colonial style farmhouse. We appreciated the fact that they offered an organic wine from Brianna grapes grown on their own property. In the summer you can watch the grapes being crushed on their outdoor crushing pad.

Appolo Vineyards Entrance

And since we were in Derry, we decided to take a walk around the Robert Frost Farm, which I have wanted to visit for some time. The house was not open, but there is a nice trail that surrounds the property. You can read some of Frost's poems and a little of the history of the property, from markers located along the trail. It was a very nice way to end the day and the year.  

View of the Robert Frost farmhouse from a woods trail behind a field.

Simple Pumpkin Chicken Casserole

Pumpkin Casserole

This recipe is made simple by using boxed or canned pumpkin or squash soup. It is great for a week night since putting it together is a snap. You can make it with rice or pasta or add vegetables in place of the chicken to make it vegetarian.

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked rice
16 ounces pumpkin or squash soup
2 diced cooked chicken breasts
1 orange or yellow pepper chopped
2 green onions chopped
1 apple peeled and diced
1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients except cheese. Spoon into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake at 450 degrees 20 minutes.

The Feast of St. Nicholas

from 123rf.com

The feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on many different days from December 4th (England and Scotland) to December 19th (in the East). In the United States, Saint Nicholas has given way to Santa Claus, who arrives on Christmas Eve bearing gifts for children. The historical St. Nicholas was a Christian Bishop of Lycia, now southern Turkey. He is known for secretly giving gifts. One legend has it that he provided dowries for 3 daughters of a poor man who could not do so himself. This allowed each of the three daughters to be honorably married, according to custom at that time. As we remember this tradition of gift-giving in December please give thought to where and how you make your purchases. Now that Black Friday is behind us, we can hopefully slow down and appreciate the holiday season by supporting your local merchants. I know you have heard the mantra "shop local" many times, but have you truly thought what your community would be like without small businesses and local stores? If you visit a brick and mortar store, and then purchase the product on-line because it is cheaper, would you still do so if it meant that a few months down the road your local store would be shutting its doors because it is no longer profitable?  Sadly that is what is happening in towns all around the country. Yes, you most likely will be paying more when you buy from your local merchant, but you are getting value from simply having a store that you can walk into, feel and touch its products, and have a face to face conversation with the owner or clerk. Further, stores keep our Main Streets alive, by attracting people to get out and socialize.

This November 15th article at Futurity.org has a sobering statistic that about 7000 stores in the United States shuttered their doors between 2016 and 2017. It also reports on research which showed that most people, and society as a whole, would be devastated if physical stores no longer existed. Not only would it have detrimental impact to local economies (think reduced tax revenues and increased payments for social services), it would would also have health and social impacts. Shopping provides an opportunity for engage with friends and to meet new acquaintances. In addition to mental health, many people use shopping as a means to get some exercise by walking.  

So please, in the spirit of Saint Nicholas have your shopping experience be impactful by benefiting not just the receiver of the gifts, but you as the shopper and the merchant as a critical component of our communities.