Rainshadow Bird Alliance

49th Port Townsend Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Results

The Christmas Bird Count was held on December 20, 2025. We ended up with 126 species, edging the all-time high, set two years ago, by one bird. Adding 7 more “count week” (cw) birds, species missed on the count but seen within three days of it in each direction, our total was 133 species. These are all listed in a PDF file here. The Barn Swallow is a first record for the count. 

Participation was also a record, with 115 participants, a number that includes 22 feeder watchers at 18 feeders. Together, we traveled 89 miles on foot and 221 miles by car, and logged 183 party-hours.

2025 Port Townsend Christmas Bird Count, Saturday, Dec 20.

The Compilation potluck will be after the count, at 5:30pm at the Rosewind Common House.

The Bird Identification and CBC Background meeting will be Wednesday, Dec 10, 7pm, at Brigid's Loft at Quincy and Washington. 

The Port Townsend CBC began in 1977. One of thousands nationwide, it is part of one of the largest field data collection efforts by volunteers. The first counts began in 1900. The data is used to track increasing and decreasing populations, to list and delist species as threatened or endangered, and to track recent changes due to climate change.

Here's how it works. Each count is a circle, 15 miles in diameter, which means 177 square miles. Our goal is to count every bird! In reality, we divide the circle into areas – each with an Area Leader and one or more teams – and walk, drive, bike, or boat certain routes to cover as much ground or water as we can on the designated day – no matter what the weather. Some teams are out all day, some less so. 

We are also looking for at-home feeder-watchers who simply report on the birds in their yard during a 30-minute window.

We are looking for birders from beginners to experienced. If interested, come to the meeting listed above, or contact the count compiler, Steve Hampton, at stevechampton@gmail.com.