2025 Washington State Christmas Bird Count Information.
Thanks go to Jim Danzenbaker for gathering Christmas Bird Count information statewide. Jim has volunteered to do this for the past eight years.
If your Audubon chapter’s Christmas Bird Count is not listed here or needs to be edited, please send the information to the WOS webmaster (webmaster AT wos.org) and the information will be added or corrected.
For an article on “History of the Christmas Bird Count: How the count started and how the data is used today” go to https://www.audubon.org/conservation/history-christmas-bird-count
Saturday, December 13
TEST COUNT: Potholes-Moses Lake (CANCELLED FOR 2025)
(IMPORTANT NOTE: Organizer Doug Schonewald has cancelled the test run for this year because there were not enough volunteers to reach the CBC minimum of 10 participants. He may try again next year, so stay tuned.)
This was to be a test run of a new CBC. Interested participants should contact Doug Schonewald at dschone8@donobi.net or Phone: 509-760-5884 for details. See this write-up of the proposal for more information.
Sunday, December 14
Cheney CBC
Most of the area is already covered by individuals or small teams birding their areas though there is likely room for a few more. Contact Michael Woodruff at mkd.woodruff@gmail.com or 509-496-7973 for more information.
Columbia Estuary CBC
This is a new inclusion in this list of Washington State CBCs This circle includes extreme southwest Washington State in Pacific County. New Organizer/Compiler David Irons (taking over for long-time organizer/compiler Mike Patterson) is actively recruiting interested folks to count in the varied habitats of Pacific County including Cape Disappointment State Park (lighthouse sea watch), the towns of Ilwaco and Chinook, the Chinook Valley and the Columbia River frontage extending east up to Knappton. Here’s a map of the CBC circle showing the areas included in Washington. If you are interested, please contact Dave Irons@llsdirons@msn.com or text him at 541-359-7064.
Lyle CBC
We typically have 110 to 130 species. Sometimes we have the most Lewis’s Woodpeckers of any CBC, and we are regularly the only count in Washington with Acorn Woodpeckers. Our 15-mile diameter count circle straddles the Columbia River between Mosier, OR and The Dalles, OR.
We organize about 10 sectors prior to the count, and each sector operates independently on count day.
Contact John Bishop: bishopjg @ icloud.com or at 360-281-4118.
Neah Bay CBC
Contact Charlie Wright at cwright770@ gmail.com for more information about Washington’s most remote circle.
Olympia (WAOL) CBC
The count circle is divided into 16 sub-areas or sectors, each with an experienced leader or coordinator. Participation will be coordinated through the compiler and sub-area leads. Please contact the compiler Bill Shelmerdine: georn1@hotmail.com directly if interested in participating.
Seattle CBC
Birds Connect Seattle (formerly Seattle Audubon) will be conducting the Seattle count. Everyone is welcome to register as a participant in the Field Count, and anyone within the Seattle CBC circle is encouraged to participate in the At-Home Count. Registration opens on November 1st and closes on December 8th. Details and registration information at https://birdsconnectsea.org/get-involved/community-science/cbc/. Contact: cbc AT birdsconnectsea.org
Monday, December 15
Cle Elum CBC
Contact Michael Hobbs at 425-301-1032 or at birdmarymoor@gmail.com. We could really use a few more people on the count this year! The Cle Elum area is fascinating in winter; always different one year to the next.
Sequim-Dungeness CBC
The Sequim-Dungeness CBC includes a wonderful mix of habitats ranging from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the foothills of the Olympic Mountains Please contact the compiler, Bob Boekelheide at bboek@olympus.net for more information.
Twisp CBC
The 2025 Twisp Christmas Bird Count takes flight on Dec. 15. All birders are welcome to join. Contact Steve Pruett-Jones (spruettjones AT gmail.com) to sign up or get more information. The meeting place will be somewhere in Twisp or Winthrop, but we’re not yet sure given some uncertainty in the businesses at the moment. The Twisp CBC offers a nice variety of Eastside birds and can be a great place for winter finches and Bohemian Waxwings. Some of the routes offer x-c ski birding!
Tuesday, December 16
Leavenworth CBC
This will be the 25th annual Christmas Bird Count for Leavenworth. All are welcome to join. This year’s CBC will be hosted by the Wenatchee River Institute. Reach out to Tucker Jonas (tuckersjonas@gmail.com) if you’d like to participate.
Wednesday, December 17
Bridgeport CBC
The Bridgeport CBC is back from its sabbatical last year! This year, the organizer/compilers are Peter Wimberger and Kent Woodruff. We will be meeting at the McDonalds in Brewster at 7 AM. Please contact Peter for details at pwimbo@gmail.com.
Saturday, December 20
Camas Prairie/Trout Lake (WACT) CBC
Those interested in participating please email Jim White at jwhite.mars@gmail.com or cell phone 509-961-2775. This circle is in the Glenwood and Trout Lake valleys, north of White Salmon. Location: (45.983715, -121.416802). This is not near Camas, Washington
Eastside Audubon CBC
The count will begin at 8 am. December 20. The count covers the area both west and east of Lake Sammamish including Marymoor Park south to east Bellevue and Issaquah and east to Redmond and Sammamish. Eastside Audubon is recruiting volunteers for 15 field teams and additional feeder watchers who live within our count circle. Check Eastside Audubon website at https://www.eastsideaudubon.org for more details. Andy McCormick is the compiler at andy_mcc@hotmail.com or 425-518-0892
Chelan CBC
Previous participants will receive notice from the coordinator, Amy Pavelcheck. On count day, e will meet at the Don Morse Park boat launch area in the morning. New people wishing to participate should contact the coordinator after (not before) November 16 by email: amy.pavelchek AT dfw.wa.gov.
Colville CBC
The 2025 Christmas Bird Count starts at 7:00 am. Meet up at SuperOne Foods deli/lunch area at 1250 N Hwy 395, Colville, WA 99114. Contact is Barbara Harding (stellerijay@hotmail.com or cell 509-675-6591).
Edmonds / South Snohomish County CBC
Hosted by Pilchuck Audubon Society, the Edmonds CBC is centered near Martha Lake in Lynnwood and has 13 areas located in northern King, southern Snohomish, and southeastern Island Counties. We have opportunities for field teams, feeder/yard counters, crow counting, and owling. Please fill out the registration form to express your interest in participating. More information is available at https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count
The compiler is Brian Zinke (cbc.waed@pilchuckaudubon.org, 425-232-6811).
Ellensburg CBC
The varied habitats include town, farmland, Yakima River, and ponds. There are walking and driving routes. Feeder watch counters are welcomed! Following a long day in the field, we’ll have a potluck dinner at Holmes Center at 5pm.
Contact Judy Hallisey at hydrojude@gmail.com or boardmembers@kittitasaudubon.org for information about the count.
Kitsap Audubon Society’s “Kitsap Circle CBC
This count covers Poulsbo to Port Orchard and Bainbridge Island. Contact compiler Janine Schutt, at jeschutt@hotmail.com for further information. Kitsap Audubon is asking volunteers to sign an electronic liability waiver. Team leaders will email the document prior to the count date.
Lewis County CBC
Interested participants can contact Rachel Hudson: lightningdash09@yahoo.com. Non-mandatory Compilation Dinner will likely be at The Juice Box in Centralia again, exact time TBD (near or after sunset). Birders of all skill levels welcome. Routes include a mixture of walking routes, neighborhoods, some parks, and driving routes. Feeder watchers within the count circle’s boundary are always welcome.
Moscow-Pullman CBC
The 55th consecutive (and 72nd overall) Moscow-Pullman Christmas Bird Count will be Saturday, December 20th. Birders interested in counting birds at their feeders or spending the day in the field are welcome: enthusiasm is desired more than expertise.
Our count circle is divided into two halves. Birders interested in participating on the Idaho side should contact Kas Dumroese (kas.birder@gmail.com). Birders interested in participating on the Washington side should contact Marie Dymkoski (Marie-Dymkoski@msn.com) or Casey Lowder (casey.lowder@me.com). Please RSVP by Wednesday, December 17.
Our semi-hosted, post-count-day social will be 4-7 pm at Shattuck West in Moscow.
Oak Harbor CBC
This count is on Whidbey Island. The count runs 7:00am- 4:00pm with owling before or after these times. We are looking for at least 1 birder with access to the navy base. 2 other areas currently do not have leaders. Contact Compiler: Steve Ellis: sremse@comcast.net
Port Townsend (qatáy) CBC
This count is hosted by Rainshadow Bird Alliance (formerly known as Admiralty Audubon Society) and the compiler is Steve Hampton (stevechampton AT gmail.com). We have car, walking, and biking routes. All details are at https:www.admiraltyaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count-cbc
San Juan Ferry (Anacortes to Friday Harbor) CBC
Contact person is John Aspnes, 360-303-2675, jdaspnes@Alaska.edu. This count is supported by North Cascades Audubon Society, Bellingham, WA.
San Juan Islands CBC
Hosted by San Juan Islands Audubon Society, the 2025 San Juan Islands CBC will be held on 20 December. The San Juans offer a range of habitats and opportunities for birds from inland to marine, with count areas on Lopez, Orcas, Shaw and San Juan Island. People interested in participating in this year’s count, either for feeder count or in the field, should contact Ross Lockwood at either rossl@rockisland.com or sjicbc@gmail.com.
Tacoma CBC
Tahoma Bird Alliance of Pierce County will be conducting this count. Everyone is welcome to join and there are opportunities to count feeder birds at your own home. The circle includes lots of
salt and freshwater habitat and mature stands of conifers and oaks. The circles includes Gig Harbor, Tacoma, University Place, Lakewood, Fife & Parkland. For Area Leaders, see www.tahomabirdalliance.org or contact the compiler Marcus Roening at marcus@rainierconnect.com for information and to participate.
Walla Walla CBC
Currently we have enough local folks that like to do their areas on their own. However, if you would like information on our count, contact Compiler MerryLynn Denny.
Sunday, December 21
Bellingham CBC
The northernmost CBC on the Washington coast includes the neighborhoods, forests, and shorelines of Bellingham and has been running every year since 1967. Contact the compiler Alex Jeffers at Ajeffers@northcascadesaudubon.org.
Leadbetter Point CBC
The Leadbetter Bird Count is centered in Willapa Bay east of Oysterville and spans land areas on the east side of the Bay, both shores of the bay, the northern portion of the Long Beach peninsula and part of the oceanside of the peninsula. Scheduled for December 21, 2025. Please contact Robert Sudar at fallcreek734@gmail.com. We can always use more counters at feeders.
Saturday, December 27
Dodge Valley CBC
Join this CBC in western Skagit County. Leader is Michelle Landis. Contact her at 360-305-2396.
Everett-Marysville CBC
Hosted by Pilchuck Audubon Society, the Everett-Marysville circle includes the areas of: Marysville, northern Everett, Tulalip Reservation, Smokey Point, Hat Island, southern tip of Camano Island, and portions of Arlington and Lake Stevens. Those wishing to join a field team should contact the compiler to coordinate an area assignment. Birders wishing to conduct feeder/yard counts also need to contact the compiler to determine their location within the CBC circle and to receive directions.
For more information, visit https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count Compiler: Scott Atkinson can be reached at: scottratkinson@hotmail.com or 425-210-2716.
Padilla Bay CBC
Skagit Audubon Society will again be organizing the Padilla Bay CBC. Contact Tim Manns, Conservation Chair, Skagit Audubon Society, at conservation@skagitaudubon.org or 360-333-8985. There will be an evening potluck to gather and compare results at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center in Bayview.
Port Angeles CBC (WAPA)
We welcome new participants. Please contact Barbara Blackie, the compiler, by email: blackieb@olypen.com (preferred) or by phone (360.477.8028) ahead of time to arrange where to go. We have a circle that encompasses everything from Hurricane Ridge to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We don’t meet as a group at the beginning of the day so we coordinate areas via email prior to the count day. We try to meet after the count for a tally at a local restaurant.
TriCities CBC
The count circle is divided into three sections. Lisa Hill leads the Richland Team (509-869-6715), Rowan McMurchie leads the Kennewick Team (509-438-7239), and Dana Ward leads the Pasco Team (509-430-3363). You can choose a team based on where you live or your personal preference. Bill LaFramboise is the overall coordinator and can be reached at 509-531-3768 or by email (billnan321@gmail.com). Following the count, we will have a potluck dinner to review results and share stories about the day. If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please get in touch with the team leader for your preferred area or reach out to Bill LaFramboise to sign up. We are happy to welcome new participants to the count.
White Rock, BC CBC
This Christmas Bird Count circle, White-Rock/ Surrey/ Langley, has a section on the US side including Blaine and Semiahmoo Bay. You can find a map of the count here. A close-up look on the US part of our count area can be found here.
The count will start at 8am at the latest. Please contact Kristina Breit at cbcwhiterock@gmail.com. Anyone is welcome: no matter how much experience you have, no matter how many birds you know or where you are from. We are an inclusive community and are open to anyone who is interested in joining us. The more the better.
Sunday, December 28
Cowlitz – Columbia CBC
Our count is centered just south of Rainier, OR in the Columbia River and includes the cities of Longview, Kelso, Rainier, and the old Trojan Nuclear Power Plant. We will have eight or nine areas within the circle that will be counted. We would love to have some new people participate. Contact Becky Kent 360-560-0001 or ;beckykt@comcast.net.
Kent-Auburn CBC
Contact Rainier Audubon CBC Field Coordinator Barbara Petersen at: bpbatfan@aol.com for information.
Satsop CBC
This count takes place in the beautiful Chehalis river valley of Grays Harbor county. Contact compiler Liam Hutcheson at liamhutcheson2020@gmail.com.
Monday, December 29
Wahkiakum County CBC
The Wahkiakum circle straddles the Oregon/Washington border on the lower Columbia River, including the Julia Butler Hansen and Lewis & Clark National Wildlife Refuges, Puget Island, and Brownsmead.
contact: Andrew Emlen at emlenandrew@gmail.com
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Skagit Bay CBC
The count circle is centered near the Wylie Slough refuge and includes Fir Island, Stanwood, the north end of Camano Island and the SE tip of Whidbey Island. This year, we will continue with a Covid-avoidance policy, with small groups and no formal compilation gathering.
Contact is Scott Ramos, nearpost@gmail.com.
Friday, January 2
Chewelah CBC
This is a fun count with several thousand feet of elevation range from the Colville River Valley to Chewelah Peak and the 49 Degrees North Ski area with corresponding habitat varieties. Depending on the snow levels, we may have open water on Walts Lake and may be able to access portions of the Colville National Forest. Interested folks can reach out to Mike Munts at strix.nebulosa1987@gmail.com.
South End Whidbey CBC
We’re looking for team leaders or advanced birders; we have a few open sections. I have maps and routes, and even bathroom stops to make! contact me govinda@whidbey.com The South Whidbey Circle is divided into 12 teams. Like the Island itself, each team’s area is long and narrow. Each area varies between shore, forest, marsh, field, and a mix of all four. All teams cover open water to document seabirds. Some areas have more beach territory than others. We plan to have a post tabulation gathering at the Trinity Lutheran Church space at 18431 Hwy 525 (in the old chapel area) in Freeland. The space is reserved from 3-6:60 with folks showing up 3:30-4:30 p.m. We have a call out for volunteers to dust off those recipe cards and help feed us hungry birders. There will be coffee, snacks, and other food available. Please contact Govinda Holtby at govinda@whidbey.com or text at 360-481-6971 by December 12th, 2025 if you are interested in becoming a feeder watcher, team member, or section leader. If necessary weather make up date will be January 5th, 2026.
Saturday, January 3
Grays Harbor CBC
If you would like to start off the year with a day of FOY birds, come join us for the Grays Harbor CBC! After count pizza at Westside Pizza, 1420 Sunmer (Highway 101 Westbound) in Aberdeen for those who care to join us (Yummm!). Please contact Dianna Moore for more information. Cell: 360-590-1395 (texting is preferred) or email at osdlm1945@gmail.com.
Omak-Okanogan CBC
The Omak-Okanogan Christmas Bird Count meets each year to find and record as many birds as we can find. Golden eagles, canyon wrens, pygmy nuthatches, horned larks, snow buntings, and trumpeter swans are just a few of the exciting birds we see each year. If folks have an interest in the event, please do not hesitate to reach out for more information. We invite all bird enthusiasts, no matter your age or expertise!
Please contact Matt Danielson: mattie_rubio@hotmail.com or at 509-846-3392.
Spokane CBC
Contact compiler Tim O’Brien at kertim7179@yahoo.com or 509-850-7114
Wenatchee CBC
Contact Jenny Graevell: wrenjen527 or 509-679-3631 to sign up.
Yakima Valley CBC
The Yakima Valley Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is on Saturday, January 3rd, with Scott Downes as compiler. The Yakima Valley count circle covers the Yakima Valley from east of Moxee to West Valley, much of Selah and a little bit south of the Union Gap. This count includes both walking and driving routes. Volunteers may join an established route leader or sign up to count birds at their feeders if you live in the count circle. Volunteers wishing to join a route should contact the compiler to be assigned to a route. If you live in the count area and wish to count your feeders, please also contact Scott at downess AT charter.net. The count is always a ton of fun, as we typically see a lot of birds and spend the day in some great birding areas. There is a breakfast the morning of the count for those wishing to join, contact Scott for details.
What to bring: It can be cold, so be sure to bring plenty of layers as teams are outside for much of the day! Make sure to also bring lunch, and a hot beverage is always nice, too.
Sunday, January 4
North Kitsap/Port Gamble CBC
Kitsap Audubon’s North Kitsap/Port Gamble circle count will be on Sunday, January 4, 2025. Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join us. To join a field team, contact Jennifer Standish (magma1306@gmail.com). If you live within a circle’s boundaries, you can count birds from your own backyard (Contact Janine Schutt). More information about the count is available at https://www.kitsapaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count
Kitsap Audubon requires field trip participants to complete a liability waiver. This simple online form can be accessed via a link on the web page mentioned above. Once a waiver has been signed, it will be valid for the remainder of the KAS operating year (September – June). Trip leaders will provide detailed instructions upon event registration.
Sauvie-Ridgefield-Vancouver (ORSI) CBC
The count includes Vancouver Lake Bottoms and Ridgefield NWR in Washington and Sauvie Island in Oregon. If you wish to count on the Oregon side of the circle, please contact Bob Archer at rabican1@gmail.com. If you wish to count on the Washington side of the circle, please contact Thomas Meinzen at greenbirder@substack.com. Early notification of interest is appreciated.
If you have counted before and have a location preference or a list of people to be part of your count team, just let us know. We will send out detailed instructions and assignments in early December. Everyone is welcome, no matter your experience or the amount of time you have to count on the 4th. Feeder watchers within the circle boundaries are invited to join the count. To participate, please fill out this interest form.
Vashon CBC
Hosted by the Vashon Bird Alliance (formerly Vashon Audubon). The Vashon CBC could use your help! We are looking for a few birders to join teams. We have multiple routes on the island that could benefit from volunteer birders experienced in either sea/shorebird and lowland forest bird identification. If you are interested in participating in this count, please contact volunteer coordinator Jody Pritchard: jpritchard789@gmail.com with your preferred area of experience and she will put you in touch with the organizer/compiler.