Annual Waterfowl Aerial Survey

On the coast and Great Bay, wintering waterfowl are beginning to move
on. A January 6 aerial survey conducted by Fish and Game reported 3,461
wintering ducks and geese on the open waters of Great Bay. This included 483
black ducks, 2,655 Canada geese, and for the first time ever, 35 snow geese. In
coastal waters, hundreds of sea ducks that call our coast home in the winter
will now begin to head north to their summer breeding ranges. Loons, wintering
in the waters of the Atlantic in drab winter garb, transition into sleek summer
suits and head for the inland lakes to breed.

Fish and Game also keeps track of inland wintering waterfowl, too. Since 1988,
increasing numbers of waterfowl have migrated to our cities to survive the
winter. Generally, the milder the winter, the more ducks and geese tend to stay
in the state. A long period of subfreezing temperature and a thick snow cover
tends to drive them further south. Many of these ducks and geese are year-round
residents; in the winter of 2002, 6,909 mallards, 721 black ducks and 1,025
Canada geese were observed in southern New Hampshire towns. Typically, a
majority of these birds sought the city lights and heat, so Manchester,
Bedford, Merrimack and Nashua harbored a significant number of these birds.
Occasionally, an odd bird shows up too. Wood ducks, green-winged teal and even
a hooded merganser or two decide to wait out the winter far north of most of
their brethren. Talk about an odd duck, we've got them too!

Type: Marine

Waterbody or Watershed Names: GREAT BAY ESTUARY; THE HAMPTON/
SEABROOK SALTMARSHES; COASTAL NH; ISLE OF SHOALS