How to Get Involved

Audubon's 118th Christmas Bird Count has concluded, with all counts held between the dates of Thursday, December 14, 2017 through Friday, January 5, 2018.  Join us next season for the 119th Christmas Bird Count, held Friday, December 14, 2018 through Saturday, January 5, 2019.

A map view of the circles expected to be included in the 118th CBC can be found here. If you're interested in participating next season, check out the map to find a count near you; more circles will be added as they are approved. Green and yellow circles are open for new participants, and red circles are full. Please note online registration was not available for the 118th Count—please contact compilers by email using the information from the pop-ups on the map.

About the Christmas Bird Count

First organized in the Lower 48 and eastern Canada with just 27 birdwatchers in 1900, the winter of 2016-2017 marks the 117th Christmas Bird Count. In Alaska, volunteers have carried out Christmas Bird Counts since before statehood.

Groups of volunteers select a day during the count period to conduct a count. They have 24 hours to record as many birds as possible in a 15-mile diameter circle. Volunteers participate in counts in all 50 states, in all Canadian provinces, several Central and South American countries, and several Pacific and Caribbean islands.

“The Christmas Bird Count volunteers provide invaluable information about the state of Alaska’s birds,” says Nils Warnock, Executive Director of Audubon Alaska. “Long-term records help identify which species are declining, increasing, or shifting geographically.”

Learn more on the national Christmas Bird Count website!