Christmas Bird Count - Fort Bragg

ALL DAY - December 20, 2025

Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is the largest and longest-running citizen-science effort in the world. Started by Frank Chapman in 1900, it quickly became a popular alternative to the “side hunt” of the 19th century. Now tens of thousands of people join every year in an effort to “make birds count”.

Participants join field teams, or bird their own yards, within a defined circle 15 miles in diameter. The goal is to identify and count every bird you see within the circle in a 24-hour period. Some of us start in the early morning darkness, calling and listening for owls, and sometimes linger after dark hoping for just one more. Others just pop out for a couple of hours in the morning, or even stay indoors and count birds through the window. It’s all good and it all counts!

The Fort Bragg Count will be held on Sunday December 21, 2025. The circle extends from the south bank of Big River north to Little Valley Road. If you live anywhere within that region, you can participate simply by counting birds in your yard. Or you can join a team birding in the field – walking, driving, bicycling, kayaking, and possibly taking the Kraken out to sea. At the end of the day, we will meet in Caspar for a Count Dinner and tally up the finds. For team assignment, checklist and protocols, contact Tim Bray or Roger Adamson (radamson@mcn.org).

The Manchester count, now in its 52nd year, includes the coast from Elk south to Lighthouse Point. It will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026 and is a fantastic way to kick-start your birding year. This year the Count Dinner will be held at the Manchester Grange Hall on Crispin Road. Contact David Jensen, djensen@mcn.org to participate.