Apapane perched on ohia plant, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park / NPS

The 125th annual Christmas Bird Count, organized by the National Audubon Society, kicks off this Saturday, December 14 and runs through January 5. It's a wonderful time to grab a pair of binoculars and head to one of the national parks that hosts a bird count event. Typically, they'll be staffed with trained naturalists who can help you distinguish between bird species and clue you in a bit more to the avian life in the park. Many of the events cater to little ones, a great way to get them more involved in observing the natural world. 

Below is a list of the parks that have announced organized events. We'll update the list if and when more are added

Saturday, December 14

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Lees Ferry, Arizona

Gather your fledglings for this half-day event celebrating nature, parks, education and outdoor family fun. The event brings together all the basic elements of birding to introduce the next generation of stewards to the importance of birds in the ecosystem and the annual tradition of bird counts. Kids will also participate in hands-on activities to learn more about how to protect bird populations in our area.

Naturalists will lead groups in the field to identify and count birds. Young Birders, ages 8–18, will participate in the official count and venture out to various locations within the park to identify and count birds. All teams will record and share their findings in a short report during the Tabulation Celebration. All children must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, scout leader, or other chaperone. Event occurs rain or shine. Space is limited. 

Registrations should be made by December 7th, 2024. To register for this event, send your registration request in an email to [email protected] with the subject line: Registration CBC4Kids. Note that each parent/legal guardian can sign up to two youths, but they must be the parent/legal guardian to both youths and present for the event's duration.

Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Join tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas for an adventure. Families, amateur birders, and scientists alike, arm themselves with binoculars, bird guides, and checklists and go out on an annual mission to count the world’s bird populations. Participants need to register in advance with ranger Andy Van Camp at (219) 395-1882 or email him. The count circle is Indiana Dunes National Park West (INDW). The exact location of the circle can be seen by visiting Audubon's website.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona, Nevada

The Christmas Bird Count is the nation’s longest-running community science bird project. While birding experience is a plus, beginners are welcome to join NPS biologists to learn more about the birds of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Registration is required. Space is limited. To register, please email [email protected] or call 702-293-8711. Registered volunteers will be sent out a password prior to the event in order to gain free entry into the park. Location will be announced via confirmation email to all registered participants prior to the event. 

Sunday, December 15

Gateway National Recreation Area, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, New York

Come join a park ranger and help with the Christmas Bird Count! We will be counting the birds we see throughout our walk to help Audubon with their research. Dress for the weather and binoculars will be provided. No fees, no reservation required. 

Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

The bird count begins at 7:30 a.m. in front of the visitor center. Staff will distribute hiking and driving routes and datasheet packets. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch, warm clothes, and if you have them, binoculars, field guides, and spotting scopes.

The count ends at 2:30 p.m., but it is not required to attend the whole day. Smaller hiking and driving units are available. If you plan to attend, have questions, or would like to request specific units, please contact Noah Robison at (605) 745-1149 or via email at [email protected].

The count is patterned after the nationwide National Audubon Society effort to document trends in wintering birdlife throughout the United States. The count will cover all of Wind Cave National Park and areas of the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park. Information from the count will be provided to the South Dakota Ornithological Union.

Saturday, December 21

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Wyoming

Be a part of our annual Christmas Bird Count! Information and counting packets are limited, so to reserve yours call the visitor center at 307-548-5406 or email Christy Fleming at e-mail us. Packets will be available for pick-up at the Cal S. Taggart Visitor Center at 7:00am. The visitor center is in Lovell, Wyoming, near the intersections of HWY 310 & HWY 14A. Packets must be returned to the visitor center by 3:00pm, so we can tally up the results. 

Tuesday, December 31

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

This year, the event will be held at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on Tuesday, December 31, starting at 7:45 a.m. Volunteers of all skill levels and ages are welcome and encouraged to take part in this exciting event. 

To join the bird count at Great Sand Dunes, individuals must register as park volunteers. Interested participants should contact Park Biologist Dewane Mosher at 719-378-6363 or [email protected] to sign up. Registered volunteers will receive a waiver for the park entrance fee on the day of the event. 

Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. All participants are required to arrive at the park starting at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31 to complete necessary paperwork, review safety guidelines, and receive maps and instructions for their assigned areas. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars and spotting scopes. A limited number of these items may be available to borrow.