Christmas Bird Count 2023
Christmas Bird Count in the Lower East Side, Manhattan (December 18, 2022). Photo: Pat Arnow
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count, a tradition first proposed by ornithologist Frank M. Chapman on Christmas Day 1900, is the nation's longest-running Community Science bird project. New York City Audubon plays its part in this annual bird population survey, which is now conducted across North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Pacific Islands. The data collected by observers over the past century allow researchers, conservation biologists, and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America.
Christmas Bird Counts in Manhattan and Northern New Jersey
The 124th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count has now ended. NYC Audubon is responsible for reporting data for the New Jersey Lower Hudson (NJLH) count circle, which includes all of Manhattan, Governors Island, Randall's Island, and parts of northern New Jersey. This year's NJLH count took place on Sunday, December 17, 2023. Summaries for the Central Park count and the entire NJLH count circle from 2023 will be available here by February 2024.
Even though this year's count is over, you can still participate in our 2023 Christmas Bird Count Photo Contest! Post your Count Day photos on Instagram/Instagram stories, Facebook, or X/Twitter and tag @nycaudubon. You can also email your photos to ChristmasBirdCount@nycaudubon.org. Learn more about the photo contest here and submit your Christmas Bird Count photos by December 27, 2023, to qualify.
Volunteers participate in the 123rd Christmas Bird Count (December 18, 2022) at Randall's Island. Photo: NYC Audubon
One of hundreds of Tufted Titmice counted during the Christmas Bird Count at Central Park in 2022. Photo: NYC Audubon
Participants at the Central Park compilation (held in the Arsenal) following the count in 2022. Photo: NYC Audubon
Volunteers participate in the 123rd Christmas Bird Count (December 18, 2022) at Randall's Island. Photo: NYC Audubon
One of hundreds of Tufted Titmice counted during the Christmas Bird Count at Central Park in 2022. Photo: NYC Audubon
Participants at the Central Park compilation (held in the Arsenal) following the count in 2022. Photo: NYC Audubon
Christmas Bird Counts Elsewhere in New York City
In addition to NJLH circle counts, Christmas bird counts for circles in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Westchester, Queens, and Staten Island will take place throughout the month of December. These counts are coordinated by compilers independent of New York City Audubon, but we encourage you to participate in them if you can. The more data we can all gather throughout the City's five boroughs, the better for our birds! To participate in counts for Brooklyn, the Bronx and Westchester, Queens, and Staten Island, please see the contact information in the table below.
Location/Count Circle Date Contact Name Contact Email Website Notes Bronx & Westchester Sat, Dec 23, 2023 Michael Bochnik bochnikm@cs.com LINK Contact Michael Bochnik or one of the regional area leaders (see website) if you wish to participate in the field or if you want to count at a feeder. Brooklyn Sat, Dec 16, 2023 Bobbi Manian roberta.manian@gmail.com Registration deadline:
Wed, Dec 13, 2023Queens Sun, Dec 17, 2023 Corey Finger 10000birdsblogger@gmail.com LINK Registration deadline:
Sun, Dec 3, 2023Staten Island Sat, Dec 16, 2023 Cliff Hagen chagen72@gmail.com Registration deadline:
Sun, Dec 10, 2023
Staten Island CBC coverage is broken down into thirteen defined territories and anyone interested in participating will be asked to be willing to count birds in an area as needed.
Christmas Bird Count History and Data
Learn about the full history of the Christmas Bird Count and the compiled data here. To see this year’s results from all over the country as they come in, as well as to get historical data from years prior, visit Audubon’s website here.
Christmas Bird Count-goers explore the Lower East Side in 2022. Photo by Pat Arnow.
CBC Activities Page
For the first time, NYC Audubon was happy to present an activities page for Count Day! Although the 124th Audubon Christmas Bird Count is over, our Photo Competition is live on December 27! Plus Bird Bingo and our CBC Crossword are still available for your next winter bird outing or cozy night in.
