Christmas Bird Count

Christmas Bird Count - Dec 27, 2025

See results of the 2025 Christmas Bird Count below.

The Tri-Cities Christmas Bird Count (CBC) regularly has the highest number of species seen inland in Washington thanks to strong community and LCBAS member support. It is typically held the first Saturday following Christmas Day.
All CBCs are standardized to a 7.5 mile radius circle (about 177 square miles). The LCBAS count circle is formally called the Washington Tri-cities circle (see below) and centers on the Columbia River shoreline closest to Road 68 in Pasco. This is a very large area that includes Selph Landing Road in Pasco, most of Two Rivers Park east of Kennewick and Badger Mountain in Richland.
To facilitate the organization of small count teams, the circle is managed by three team leaders representing Richland, Pasco and Kennewick. To participate in the CBC, contact any of the leaders to get more information about the count and general guidelines.

Richland: Lisa Hill (509-869-6715)

Kennewick: Rowan Young-McMurchie (509-438-7239)

Pasco: Dana Ward (509-545-0627)

General Compiler: Bill LaFramboise (509-531-3768)

CBC #126 - Dec 27, 2025 overview

Male Hooded Mergansers - Larry Umthun

Male Varied Thrush - Larry Umthun

Thanks to the many participants—including our feeder watchers— the annual Christmas Bird Count was a big success. Special thanks to Team Leads Lisa Hill, Rowan Young-McMurchie, and Dana Ward for coordinating efforts in their respective areas and helping ensure the count ran smoothly. Marcie Daines did a wonderful job hosting and organizing the potluck dinner after the count. The potluck is a long-standing tradition of our count, and it provided a great opportunity to share a meal, see friends, and swap stories from the day’s birding adventures.

There were 112 species recorded on count day—five more than last year. One additional species was found during count week (the three days before and after count day). Relatively warm fall and early-winter conditions may have contributed to low counts of some waterfowl species that likely remained farther north, as well as a reduced American Coot count. In contrast, record-high totals were tallied for Snow Goose, Cackling Goose, and Trumpeter Swan. Mild conditions may also have contributed to a late Barn Swallow, only the second occurrence of the species on our count. Common Loon, Anna’s Hummingbird, Western Scrub-Jay, and Savannah Sparrow were also recorded in record numbers. Other highlights included Eurasian Wigeon; a Spotted Sandpiper; five owl species, including a Long-eared Owl (uncommon on the count); a Slaty-backed Gull; and a very rare wintering Blue Jay.

A trail through sagebrush habitat in W. E. Johnson Park.

Traditionally, a potluck dinner is held the evening of count day. Participants, friends and family are encouraged to attend to hear stories of great bird sightings, and generally commiserate about that day's weather.
The highlight of the evening is tallying the number of species seen and heard in Richland, Pasco and Kennewick. As each bird is called out from the tally board, an image is displayed of the bird from a Powerpoint presentation. On average, about 115 species are seen by 60-70 observers in the field. All the data is submitted to National Audubon.

History

At the turn of the 20th century, habitat and wildlife conservation was in its infancy and few people gave much thought to preserving bird populations and protecting wildlife habitats.
In 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman proposed an annual winter bird count that would begin taking stock of birds across the U.S. and Canada. On Christmas Day of that year, a "Christmas Bird Census" was held in 25 locations, by a mere 27 dedicated birders! Thus was the beginnings of what is now known as the Christmas Bird Count (CBC).
In January 1966, a Tri-Cities birding club held a Christmas Bird Count shortly before the club received a National Audubon Society charter to officially become the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society chapter. LCBAS has continued to conduct a CBC every year since.
Data from these counts becomes part of the largest wildlife database in the world. It is vital for determining the status of expanding and declining bird populations. What started as a "fledgling" effort grew into one of the largest and most important ongoing citizen science projects in the world.

View from the west shore of Bateman Island toward Badger Mountain.

Intrepid winter birder

Washington Tri-Cities CBC circle boundary - click to enlarge