WILDLIFE VIEWING & BIRDING TRAILS - New Hampshire

Pontook ReservoirDummerThe Pontook Dam on the Androscoggin River forms areservoir and wetland area. During the spring and summer,the early morning and late evening are excellent times tolook for moose. The wetland provides a nesting area for avariety of birds including American bitterns, pied-billedgrebes, common loons, wood ducks, hooded mergansers,and American black and ring-necked ducks. Commonyellowthroats, olive-sided and alder flycatchers, Nashvillewarblers, northern waterthrushes and bay-breastedwarblers are all possibilities.Weeks State ParkLancasterDuring the fall hawk migration, the summit is a good placeto view broad-winged and sharp-shinned hawks, baldeagles, peregrine falcons and ospreys as they head south.A narrow 1.5 mile road to the summit of Mount Prospectaffords great views of the surrounding area. A wide array ofsongbirds nest in the park.Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge(part of the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge)WhitefieldMoose and white-tailed deer frequent the area and thereis considerable beaver activity. Over 200 species of birdscan be seen here throughout the year. During the summerloon, American bittern, ring-necked duck, green-wingedteal, northern harrier, osprey, Virginia rail, black-backedwoodpecker, olive-sided flycatcher, gray jay and Swainson’sthrush are just a few of the birds you may hear or see.Weeks State ParkDuring the spring and summer, theearly morning and late evening areexcellent times to look for moose.Franconia Notch State ParkFranconiaAs early as mid-March, scan Cannon Mountain andEagle Cliff for a view of peregrine falcons. Early Junemornings are the time to look for black bears on theslopes of the Cannon Mountain Ski Area. Visitors oftensee moose at Echo Lake in the spring and summer. Atthe mountain summit, listen for Bicknell’s thrushesand look for gray jays, boreal chickadees and whitethroatedsparrows.For more wildlife viewing and birding locations in the GreatNorth Woods visit wildnh.com.Merrimack River Wildlife TrailThe Merrimack River Watershed has a diversity fewother places match. More than 400 species of fish,mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians can be foundin these fun-to-explore outdoor areas. At its core is anetwork of sites in the Merrimack River Watershedselected for bird watching, wildlife viewing, historicaland educational opportunities.Winnipesaukee River TrailFranklin and TiltonBike or walk this trail to explore a variety of rich riparianhabitat including cattail wetlands, a beaver pond andtumbling water. The river provides a variety of summerhomes for belted kingfishers, tree swallows, bank swallows,song sparrows, great catbirds, common yellowthroats, redeyedvireos and many other birds.