Christmas Bird Count 2025-2026

What is the Christmas Bird Count?

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a census of birds in the Western Hemisphere, performed annually in the early Northern-hemisphere winter by volunteer birdwatchers and administered by the National Audubon Society. The purpose is to provide population data for use in science, especially conservation biology, though many people participate for recreation. The CBC is the longest-running citizen science survey in the world. More information.

Read last year’s report for the 2024-2025 CBC season by Alan Contreras.

CBC Dates (this page is updated as dates are announced)

Sunday, December 14

Columbia Estuary
Contact: Dave Irons (llsdirons AT msn.com)

Florence
The Florence CBC has had a long history as a significant count area. The Count Circle includes both inland and coastal areas, covering very diverse habitats which attract and support a correspondingly wide range of bird species. Since the individual areas are covered by teams, participants with a range of birding experience can all be valuable contributors. Many eyes and ears find more birds!
Contact: Ellen Cantor (ellencantor AT gmail.com)

Gresham
Birders of all levels and abilities are welcome to join in the field counting within our 15 mile diameter circle (~176 sq. miles) or at their own home as we attempt to count every bird.  For continuing information about this year’s count, please fill out this form.  More information and resources are available at the Gresham CBC website.

Upper Nestucca
Contact: Don Albright

Burns
The Burns CBC will be held Sunday, December 14, 2025. 7 am start at McDonalds with a short meeting. Malheur Field Station has lodging available $350/person for the week (6 spots available) with cooking facilities (malheurfieldstation AT gmail.com). Please contact Rick Vetter text 541-589-2230 or Joan Suther 541-589-1087 (text preferred) if you wish to participate. There will be a traditional dinner party award ceremony held at the Greens’ house starting around 5:00 pm on Sunday 14th for the Burns bird tally. Home made Chili and cornbread and desserts will be provided. Please bring your own drinks and optional side dish. Weather can be challenging from -28° wind chill to 14 inches of snow or freezing fog. Occasionally it is nice. Be prepared with layers, wind/raingear, waterproof boots, water and snacks.

Lyle
Contact: John Bishop (bishopjg AT icloud.com)

Tuesday, December 16

Corvallis
Contact: Bev Clark by email (clark.bev9 AT gmail.com) or phone (541-231-7201) if you wish to participate. There will be a potluck held at the Corvallis Community Center (CCC) starting around 4:30-5:00 for the countdown. Chili and cornbread will be provided. Please bring a dish to share and your own cutlery.

Summer Lake
Contact: Marty St. Louis (stlouismartin541 AT gmail.com)

Tygh Valley
Contact: Joseph Blowers (josephblowers AT ymail.com)

Wednesday, December 17

Hart Mountain
Contact: Joel Geier (joel.geier AT peak.org)

Madras
Contact: Annette Lange Hildebrand (Lange69Annette AT gmail.com)

Malheur NWR
Malheur Field Station has lodging available $350/person for the week (6 spots available) with cooking facilities (malheurfieldstation AT gmail.com). Please contact Rick Vetter text 541-589-2230 or Joan Suther 541-589-1087 (text preferred) if you wish to participate.

Friday, December 19

Sheldon NWR, Nevada
Lodging is full unless you want to camp or use a distant motel.
Contact: Joel Geier (joel.geier AT peak.org)

Saturday, December 20

Bend
Contact: Tom Crabtree (tc AT empnet.com)

Forest Grove
Everybody is welcome.
Contact: Send Stefan Schlick an email at greenfant AT hotmail.com if you are interested.

Salem
Contact: Mike Unger (salemaudubonsociety AT gmail.com)

Yaquina Bay
Fill out interest form before December 14.
Contact: Kai Frueh (kaifrueh2 AT gmail.com)

Tualatin River NWR
Contact: tualatinriver AT fws.gov

Sunday, December 21

Brownsville
Contact: Lars Norgren (larspernorgren AT gmail.com)

Yamhill Valley
Contact: Paul Sullivan (paultsullivan76 AT gmail.com 971-237-4864)

Klamath Falls
Join this traditional yearly count for the entire day, or if you are in the circle, it could be for a neighborhood walk, or backyard count during part of the day, submitting your numbers by species at the end of the day. If you hear an owl, that counts too! There are seven areas to cover, either by walking or driving or it could be a mix of both. Teams of participating counters with various skills help to cover the areas and learn about birds, and the various habitats in that area. This count usually leads the east side of the Cascades in both Oregon and Washington for the number of species reported, averaging over 105. Some species seen during the day are rare or unusual for this area and makes it interesting and fun. At the potluck at the end of the day, tales are told, and a compilation tallies the birds seen that day. It’s a day that underscores the amazing bird area here and the enthusiasm that participants have for the Klamath Basin.
Contact: Kevin Spencer (rriparia AT charter.net) if you are interested in participating.

Tuesday, December 23

Dallas
Contact: Jonathan Reimer-Berg (jonathanreimerberg AT gmail.com)

Saturday, December 27

Sunriver
Contact: Sevilla Rhoads (bird AT snco.org) and Lexie Houchins-Park (lexiehouchins AT gmail.com)

Silverton
Contact: Grant Canterbury (canterbury.1.grant AT gmail.com)

Baker City
Meet at 7:30 am on count day between Albertson’s and Bi-Mart on Campbell St to take a group photo and distribute checklist/map packets. I assign routes by a first come first serve order, so if there’s a route you want to do, contact Sean Cozart (seancozart AT yahoo.com or text at (406) 404-9239) as soon as possible.

Tillamook Bay
RESCHEDULED from Dec 20 to Dec 27 due to flooding in Tillamook County.
Contact: Allison Anholt (allison.anholt AT gmail.com) and Kevin Scaldeferri (kevin AT scaldeferri.com)

Sunday, December 28

Eugene
Eugene is typically Oregon’s second biggest count (Portland is bigger). If you would like to join the Eugene count, there’s two options. If you would like to count in the FIELD, please fill out the interest form here: https://tinyurl.com/6t8b4mkz If you would like to participate as a FEEDER COUNTER and live inside the 15-mile diameter count circle, please fill out the interest form here: https://form.jotform.com/240035394246150. Questions can sent to Eugene CBC committee (EugeneChristmasBirdCount AT gmail.com)

Wallowa County
Contact: Mike Hansen (mhansen97846 AT gmail.com)

Wednesday, December 31

Oakridge
The town of Oakridge is surrounded by National Forest land so there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers who’d like to hike, mountain-bike, ski or or snowshoe (depending on snow levels) on the trails. There are also walking and driving routes around the town and nearby reservoirs, so plenty of options depending on how you’d like to participate. Please contact Joel Geier (joel.geier AT peak.org) if you’re interested.

Prineville
Contact: Mark Gonzalez (towhee AT bendbroadband.com)

Friday, January 2, 2026

Antone
This count is in the rugged canyon country of Wheeler and Grant counties, including most of the Sheep Rock unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. There are possibilities for hiking in the back country, as well as roadside routes. Please contact Joel Geier (joel.geier AT peak.org) if you’re interested.

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Redmond
Contact: Mike Golden (gardenbug99 AT bendbroadband.com)

Hood River
Contact: John Bishop (bishopjg AT icloud.com) or Wendy Walwyn (wwalwyn AT g.ucla.edu)

Coquille Valley
Contact: Harv Schubothe (ninerharv2 AT msn.com)

Portland
Visit the Bird Alliance of Oregon CBC page to see count details and sign up, or email Candace Larson (clarson AT birdallianceoregon.edu) for more information.

Cottage Grove
We have plenty of varied habitats to choose from: two lakes, rivers, creeks, farm fields, forest, urban, suburban and rural. Zones and parts of zones that anyone with limited mobility can participate in. Breakfast and Countdown for fun, but not required. Skilled birders appreciate more eyes to spot birds, happy to have you join us. Please contact Grace Fowler-Gore (GraceLovesBirds1 AT gmail.com 817-975-4936) if you are interested.

Lincoln City
RESCHEDULED from Dec 18 to Jan 3 due to severe weather.
This year we’re again going with a weekday as last year we had great participation and it seemed to work well.
Our circle map is here.
We’re not sure whether we’ll meet for breakfast yet, but we will have a countdown party at the end of the day with chili, cornbread, and beverages. We guarantee a full day of wonderful coastal weather so be prepared! Contact Nolan Clements by email  (nolanclements AT gmail.com) or text (541-786-5917) if you’d like to be part of the Lincoln City circle this year!

Sunday, January 4, 2026

Airlie-Albany
This Christmas Bird Count is centered on E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area and includes parts of Benton, Polk, and Marion Counties. All are invited.
Contact: Misty Donaghy Cannon (bmaecan AT gmail.com) if you are interested in participating.

McNary-Hermiston
Covers the area surrounding Hermiston, including Cold springs NWR, McNary dam and nature trails, and other awesome places. We are Oregon’s newest count, and this is only our second year, but even in our first year we set records for species like Burrowing owls, White crowned sparrows, Yellow Headed Blackbirds, and Lesser Scaup, with the highest counts of each of these species on CBC’s in Oregon. If you’re into scoping through 10s of 1,000s of ducks and Snow Geese, I would highly recommend it!
Contact: Eric Pratt (ericpratt.ggow AT gmail.com)

Sauvie Island/ Ridgefield
Contact: To participate, fill out a quick form or email Thomas Meinzen (thomasmeinzen AT gmail.com)