Christmas Bird Count

Western Sonoma County Christmas Bird Count: Our next count will be on Sunday, December 28, 2025

Scroll down or click here for Other Local Christmas Bird Counts.

Hooded Mergansers. Photo by Tom Reynolds.

National Audubon's Christmas Bird Count is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world. Started by Frank Chapman in Boston and New York in December, 1900, it provides critical data on population trends across North America, Hawai'i, and now areas in Central and South America as well. By participating in a CBC you make an important contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use the data collected to assess the health of bird populations, which helps to guide conservation action.

The Western Sonoma County Christmas Bird Count (CBC) began in 1967. Our 58th Annual West Sonoma County CBC will be on Sunday, December 28, 2025.

Note: The field tally form and the final tally form have both been updated in 2018 to include House Wren and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and the final tally sheet includes boxes to fill in the weather for the day. Please discard any previous editions of the tally sheets you may have on your computer.

2024 forms will be uploaded later this year. Older versions are shown below:

Counter Letter 2019 | Area Leader Contact List 2019 | Leader Letter 2019 |

Field Tally Form 2020 | Final Tally Form 2020

How to calculate hours/miles | Rare Bird Report Form

Click on map above to download high resolution version

CBC Count Circle Areas

1. Jonive Rd.
2. Freestone-Monte Rio
3. Valley Ford
4. Joy Rd.
5. Salmon Creek Rd.
6. Estero Lane
7. Doran Beach
8. Bodega Bay
9. Bodega Head
10. Bodega Marine Lab

11. Cheney Gulch
12. Seahorse Ranch
14. Highway One
15. Willow Creek Rd.
16. Duncans Mills
17. Freezeout Canyon
18. Coleman Valley Rd.
19. Austin Creek
21. Harrison Grade

CBC Territory Topo Maps

Click on links below to download area maps

1. Jonive
2a. Freestone (N)
2b. Freestone (S)
3a. V. Ford (NE)
3b. V. Ford (SW)
4. Joy Rd

5. Salmon Cr Rd
6. Estero Lane
7. Doran Beach
8. Bodega Bay
9. Bodega Head
10. B. Marine Lab

11. Cheney Gulch
12. Seahorse R.
14a. Highway 1 (N)
14b. Highway 1 (S)
15a. Willow Cr (E)
15b. Willow Cr (W)
16. Duncans Mills

17a. Freezeout (E)
17b. Freezeout (W)
18a. Coleman V (E)
18b. Coleman V (W)
19a. Austin Cr (E)
19b. Austin Cr (W)
21. Harrison Grade

Other Local Christmas Bird Counts

Cheep Thrills
Dec 19, 2024
Website

Santa Rosa CBC
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Contact

Sonoma Valley
December 27 , 2024
Contact

Previous Years

Point Reyes National Seashore, CBC for ages 3-18, Marin County
TBD
Questions: Field Institute

Spring Lake Regional Park CBC4Kids-Family Nature Walk
TBD

Petaluma CBC4Kids
TBD

Visit Nature Alley for more information on all CBC's

Audubon article on Frank Chapman's bird count in 1886. He counted the feathers of 40 species of birds on women's hats in Manhattan - the impetus for the Christmas Bird Count.

National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count Information

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