2024 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 seven 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
Note: The “@” symbol in email addresses has been replaced with ” AT “.
Saturday, December 14
Camas Prairie/Trout Lake circle (WACT) (Glenwood and Trout Lake, WA) CBC
Those interested in participating please email Jim White at jwhite.mars AT gmail.com or cell phone 509-961-2775. This circle is located in the Glenwood and Trout Lake valleys, north of White Salmon, not near Camas, WA.
Colville CBC
2024 Christmas Bird Count Count runs from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Meet up at SuperOne Foods deli/lunch area at 1250 N Hwy 395, Colville, WA 99114
Contact is Barbara Harding (stellerijay AT hotmail.com or cell 509-675-6591).
Eastside Audubon CBC
The count will begin at 8 am. December 14. 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.
Participants should register online at www.eastsideaudubon.org beginning Nov. 4. If necessary, people can email Andy McCormick at andy_mcc AT hotmail.com
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. Those wishing to join a field team should contact the compiler via email 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. We have openings for people to count the large movement of American Crows to their roost site in the late afternoon. Finally, we have openings for a couple of teams to survey owls. More information is available at https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count
Compiler: Brian Zinke (director AT pilchuckaudubon.org, 425-232-6811).
Kitsap Audubon Society’s “Kitsap Circle” CBC
This count covers Poulsbo to Port Orchard and Bainbridge Island. Contact compiler Janine Schutt, at jeschutt AT 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.
Leadbetter Point CBC
We are hopeful that the count will take place as planned. We still have some uncertainty, as we leave the COVID era, if we will be accepting new counters this year but interested birders can contact Robert Sudar at fallcreek734 AT gmail.com. We can always use more counters at feeders.
Moscow-Pullman CBC
The 54th consecutive (and 71st overall) Moscow-Pullman Christmas Bird Count will be Saturday, December 14. 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 (Palouse Audubon Society) at kas.birder AT gmail.com.
Birders interested in participating on the Washington side should contact Marie Dymkoski (Marie-Dymkoski at msn.com).
A post-count-day social, hosted by Palouse Audubon and count organizers, is tentatively scheduled to follow at the Pullman Lumberyard. Donations are welcome to ensure future sustainability of this after-count event.
Please email Kas if you no longer want to receive emails about the Moscow-Pullman CBC. Please RSVP by Wednesday, December 13.
Oak Harbor CBC
This count is on Whidbey Island. The count runs 7:00am- 4:00pm with owling a possibility before 7:00. Most teams are set but a limited number of new participants would be welcome. Contact Compiler: Steve Ellis: sremse AT comcast.net
Port Townsend (qatáy) CBC
It 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. See page 2 of our newsletter for a map and details:
Last year we set a record for party hours and bird species. We hope to build on that!
San Juan Ferry (Anacortes to Friday Harbor) CBC
Contact person is John Aspnes, 360-303-2675, jdaspnes AT alaska.edu
This count is Supported by North Cascades Audubon Society, Bellingham, WA
San Juan Islands CBC
Ross Lockwood is Compiler. Email him at: Rossl AT rockisland.com All welcome.
Twisp CBC
The 2024 Twisp Christmas Bird Count takes flight on Dec. 14. We’ll meet up at the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery at 7am and in the evening for a potluck and recap. All birders are welcome to join. Contact Steve Pruett-Jones (spruettjones AT gmail.com) or Wendy Sims (wendysw17 AT gmail.com) to sign up or get more information. The Twisp CBC offers a nice variety of East side birds and can be a great place for winter finches and Bohemian Waxwings. Some of the routes offer x-c ski birding (!).
Walla Walla CBC
Contact Compiler George Jameson at three.toed.woodpecker AT gmail.com for information and to participate.
Sunday, December 15
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 AT northcascadesaudubon.org.
Cheney CBC
Contact is Michael Woodruff at mkd.woodruff AT gmail.com or 509-496-7973.
Neah Bay CBC
Contact Charlie Wright at cwright770 AT 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 AT hotmail.com directly if interested in participating.
Sauvie/Ridgefield/Vancouver (ORSI CBC)
This 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 Karen Bachman at Ybsapsucker AT gmail.com or call/text to 971-207-7754.
If you wish to count on the Washington side of the circle, please contact Susan Setterberg at smsetterberg AT yahoo.com or call/text to 856 701 2542.
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 31st. Feeder watchers within the circle boundaries are invited to join the count. For information about the count, go to this webpage: Christmas Bird Count
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 closes on December 8. Details and registration information at https://birdsconnectsea.org/get-involved/community-science/cbc/
Contact: cbc AT birdsconnectsea.org
Monday, December 16
Cle Elum CBC
Contact Michael Hobbs at 425-301-1032 or at birdmarymoor AT 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 AT olympus.net for more information or to participate.
Wednesday, December 18
Leavenworth CBC
This will be the 24th 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 (tuckersjona AT gmail.com) if you’d like to participate.
Saturday, December 21
Chelan CBC
Previous participants will receive notice from the coordinator, Amy Pavelcheck; new people wishing to participate should contact the coordinator after (not before) November 16 by email: amy.pavelchek AT dfw.wa.gov.
Ellensburg CBC
Contact Gloria Baldi, gloriabaldi55 AT gmail.com for information about the count.
Lewis County CBC
Interested participants can contact Rachel Hudson: lightningdash09 AT yahoo.com. I am hoping to have a compilation dinner afterwards, place/time TBD. Anyone can email me if they are interested in participating, especially feeder watchers or a few experienced field birders.
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 AT icloud.com or at 360-281-4118.
Tahoma Bird Alliance (TBA) CBC in Pierce County
We have eight different areas, ranging from urban to suburban, lakes and rivers to bays.
Contact Scott Saunders at scottsaunders06 AT gmail.com to sign up.
Saturday, December 28
Chewelah CBC
This is a fun count with quite a bit of elevation range. It ranges from the Colville River Valley to the 49 Degrees North ski area. About a third of the circle is Colville National Forest and about half is agricultural lands. This makes for some great variety. If you are interested, please first contact Mike Munts strix.nebulosa1987 AT gmail.com or 509-685-1285
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 AT comcast.net.
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: cbc.waev AT pilchuckaudubon.org 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 AT skagitaudubon.org or 360-333-8985.
Port Angeles CBC (WAPA)
We welcome new participants. Please contact Barbara Blackie, the compiler, by email: blackieb AT 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
Everyone is welcome to participate in the TriCities CBC. If you live within the count circle, you are encouraged to count birds at your feeders. We have divided the count circle into three sections. Lisa Hill (509-869-6715) is leading the Richland Team, Rich Barchet (509-430-0053) is leading the Kennewick Team, and Dana Ward (509-545-0627) is leading the Pasco Team.
Bill LaFramboise (509-531-3768) is the overall compiler (email billnan321 AT gmail.com). Please coordinate your efforts with one of the team leads to prevent overlap within the area or contact any one of us if you have questions about participating.
Yakima Valley CBC
The Yakima Valley Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is on Saturday, Dec. 28th, 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, December 29
Kent-Auburn CBC
Contact Rainier Audubon CBC Field Coordinator Barbara Petersen at: bpbatfan@aol.com for information.
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 AT hotmail.com.
Satsop CBC
Contact compiler Liam Hutcheson at liamhutcheson2020 AT gmail.com.
Vashon CBC
Hosted by the Vashon Bird Alliance (formerly Vashon Audubon)
This year the Vashon CBC is looking for a few experienced birders to lead or join teams where past route leaders are unavailable or have retired from the survey. Please contact Jody Pritchard: jpritchard789 AT gmail.com if you are interested in participating in this count.
Wenatchee CBC
Contact Daniel Stephens: dstephens AT wvc.edu to sign up. (Expected date. Still waiting for confirmation.)
Monday, December 30
Wahkiakum County CBC
To participate, contact compiler Andrew Emlen at emlenandrew AT gmail.com.
Wednesday, January 1
Dodge Valley CBC
Join this CBC in western Skagit County. Leader is Michelle Landis. Contact her at 360-305-2396.
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 AT gmail.com.
Saturday, January 4
Grays Harbor CBC
If you would like to start off the New Year with a day of FOY birds, come join us for the Grays Harbor CBC! Please contact me, Dianna Moore, for more information. Cell: 360-590-1395 (texting is preferred); E-mail: osdlm1945 AT gmail.com. Due to the closing of the Aberdeen Pizza Hut and lack of a replacement meeting for our compiling party, all participants can email or text me their count info.
Kitsap Audubon’s North Kitsap/Port Gamble CBC
Kitsap Audubon’s North Kitsap/Port Gamble CBC will be held on Saturday, January 4. Interested volunteers can contact Jennifer Standish at magma1306 AT gmail.com or visit https://www.kitsapaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count for more information.
Spokane CBC
Contact compiler Tim O’Brien at kertim7179 AT yahoo.com or 509-850-7114
January 5, 2025
Goldendale CBC
The Goldendale area offers an enjoyable mix of eastside birding, with extensive grasslands and ag fields, Ponderosa Pine forest, and the Columbia River. Contact Samuel if interested in participating. sam4cb AT embarqmail.com
CBCs not happening this year
- Toppenish CBC
- Bridgeport CBC taking a sabbatical.