Every Bird Counts

A hard winter in the Northeast, USA, during early 2026, characterized by severe snowstorms and sustained subfreezing temperatures in January, February, and March, caused significant mortality among certain bird species, particularly ground-foragers like Cardinals, Eastern Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, various sparrows, woodcocks known as "timberdoodle", and waterfowl.

Constant snow cover, an active outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), combined with a failure in the northern seed crop (conifers, white birch) across Canada, a "winter finch irruption" brought large numbers of boreal finch species like Pine Siskins, Redpolls, and Pine Grosbeaks into New England and the Mid-Atlantic in search of food.

Local birds like Eastern Towhees, Cardinals, Dark-eyed Juncos, various sparrows, Blue Jays, Wild Turkeys, Crows, and Fox Sparrows, in addition to the finches, relied on residential bird feeders – including myself – which were essential for their survival during this time.

The most notable impact was a large-scale die-off of American Woodcock in New Jersey due to frozen soil. Over 170 woodcocks were found dead in Cape May Point, NJ, following a Jan. 25, 2026, snowstorm and a subsequent week of deep freezes that prevented them from foraging for earthworms. The sustained freeze caused many to lose their energy reserves and starve, with researchers fearing the entire local population in that area may have been lost.

Harsh weather combined with an active outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) also caused significant deaths of wild turkey and waterfowl in the North East. While waterfowl are hardy, the freezing of water bodies concentrated them in small, open areas, accelerating the spread of the virus.  Nearly 400 dead Canada geese were collected from Sagg Pond in Sagaponack in Long Island between February 16 and March 25, 2026, with hundreds more reported around Georgica Pond in East Hampton, BeaconBio reports, and another 800 dead geese were reported in early March.

Freezing temperatures and ice, particularly in February, reduced open water, forcing birds into smaller areas and accelerating the spread of the virus among crowded waterfowl, FOX 5 New York and ABC7NY explain. The outbreak severely impacted the East End, including Suffolk County (Peconic Bay, Southampton, Laurel, Hampton Bays) and Nassau County, notes CCESuffolk and NBC New York.

Beyond geese, cases were confirmed in snowy owls, red-tailed hawks, common crows, and wild turkeys, according to BeaconBio. Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a large, ground-dwelling bird native to North America, known for its iridescent plumage, distinctive gobbling call, and elaborate mating displays where males (gobblers) fan their tails and strut. 

Wild Turkey is not the official national bird of the United States – that title belongs to the bald eagle – it remains a powerful symbol of American abundance, resilience, and heritage. It is most famously the ultimate symbol of Thanksgiving, representing gratitude and the blessings of the earth. They are the ancestors of the domestic turkey and thrive in diverse habitats, such as oak-hickory forests, often roosting in trees at night and foraging on the ground for nuts, seeds, and insects. Once nearly extinct in some areas due to overhunting, successful conservation efforts have restored their populations across much of the continent, thriving in 49 U.S. states, Mexico, and parts of Canada. They share crucial habitats with migratory birds and benefit from conservation efforts aimed at protecting them, such as the Migratory Bird Treaty.

The hard winter in the Northeast during early 2026 forced bald eagles – a symbol of the United States – to migrate south to open water areas like the Delaware and Hudson Rivers. While cold, icy conditions created challenging environments for many birds, bald eagles often thrive, using ice floes as fishing platforms. Data from late March 2026 on NJ eagle nesting indicated a slight, 5% decline in active nests in NJ for the 2025/2026 season compared to 2024, partly attributed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which affected prey, rather than just the winter cold, showed a slightly reduced but stable population.

Birds of Lord Howe Island

During the summer of 2026 (Nov–Feb) in Lord Howe Island, you might consider a birdwatching trip Lord Howe Island Nature Tours at peak breeding season with expert naturalist Ian Hutton, who is a photographer, Curator of Lord Howe Island Museum, and the author of Birds of Lord Howe Island.

Because the island becomes a premier birdwatching destination, featuring hundreds of thousands of seabirds courting and nesting. Highlights include watching seabirds such as Red-tailed Tropicbirds (courtship rituals on Malabar Cliffs) on the cliffs, the dusk return of thousands, Masked Boobies; White Terns; Sooty Terns; Flesh-footed Shearwater; Providence Petrel, which have unique aerial courtship.

The Lord Howe Island Woodhen (Hypotaenidia sylvestris), a flightless and critically endangered rail endemic to the island, is a remarkable conservation success story thanks to Ian Hutton, who is widely regarded as the island's foremost expert and a key guardian of its ecology. His efforts have bridged the gap between scientific research and community action, bringing the Woodhen back from the brink of extinction, from only ~16 in 1980 to now being frequently seen wandering across the island. Renowned for being incredibly curious, inquisitive, and "cheeky," these brown birds often investigate human activity, foraging on lawns and appearing on residential verandahs.

World Migratory Bird Day

World Migratory Bird Day 2026 centers on the theme "Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter," focusing on community science to protect bird populations, with main days on May 9 and October 10. The 2026 campaign highlights how birders like Ian Hutton can contribute to conservation.

You can see Lord Howe Island’s birds at the art show titled “Paradise/Paradise Flag” by Ian Hutton and Selva Ozelli at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University through June 30^th and Havre de Grace Maritime Museum through July 5^th.