Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
Happening on December 20, 2025
Volunteers Needed for the Oldest Community Science Project in the World!
Watch the teams in action during our 2022 Christmas Bird Count!
Every December, thousands of volunteers across the country head outdoors to count birds, helping scientists understand how our feathered neighbors are doing. The Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) isn’t just a fun birding day — it’s the oldest and largest citizen science project in the world, and it depends entirely on volunteers like you.
This year’s CBC takes place Saturday, December 20, 2025, within a 15-mile circle centered on Beaver Lake in Sammamish. By volunteering just a few hours, you’ll help track vital trends in bird populations and guide conservation efforts across North America.
Bird Count History
The CBC is the world’s largest and longest-running community science project. The 2025–2026 season marks the 126th CBC by the National Audubon Society and Eastside Audubon’s 43rd count.
The CBC began in 1900 when conservationists replaced a holiday bird-shooting contest with a bird census. Despite its name, the count isn’t religious and welcomes all participants over 18.
Results are compiled and sent to the National Audubon Society, supporting major studies like the 3 Billion Birds report. Eastside Audubon shares local results in The Corvid Crier.
Two Ways to Help Birds and Science
1. Join a Field Team
Volunteer as part of a field birding team and spend the day exploring local parks, trails, and neighborhoods within the Eastside Count Circle. Teams are led by experienced birders — no expertise required. You’ll learn as you go, enjoy time outdoors, and contribute data that scientists rely on to monitor bird populations and environmental change.
Questions? Contact Andy McCormick
2. Count Birds from Home – Feeder Watch Program
Can’t spend the whole day outside? You can still make a big difference from your own backyard. As a Feeder Watcher, you’ll count birds visiting your feeder, yard, or nearby trees — all from the comfort of home.
To participate as a Feeder Watcher, you must live within the CBC count circle, which is a 15-mile radius centered on Beaver Lake in Sammamish. Check if you (or a friend!) live within the count circle using the link below.
Your observations are just as valuable as those from the field. Together, both counts help scientists measure changes in species numbers, migration timing, and habitat health.
Why Your Participation Matters
What began in 1900 as a small experiment by conservationists has grown into a 125-year global science effort. Each year’s data — gathered entirely by volunteers — helps shape research like the 3 Billion Birds report and informs decisions that protect habitats and species at risk.
When you join the count, you become part of this remarkable legacy. Your sightings will be submitted to the National Audubon Society and used by scientists around the world. Together, we’re not just counting birds — we’re helping ensure their future.
Eastside Audubon Field Teams
This year’s routes cover diverse habitats across the Eastside — from Marymoor Park to the Snoqualmie Valley, Issaquah Alps, and Lake Sammamish. Each route is led by a skilled birder and open to volunteers of all experience levels.
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This route stays east of the Snoqualmie River and stops at many locations in Carnation and vicinity. It includes stops near the Tolt River. The team drives between locations and walks at each one.
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The team begins at Tolt-MacDonald Park and follows the west side of the Snoqualmie Rivers to Carnation Marsh, Blue Heron Golf Course, and several other stops along the way to Fall City. Features both car and walking birding.
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This team birds along West Snoqualmie Valley Road, and looks for birds in farmland, at Sikes Lake, Chinook Bend, and a section of Carnation Farms. Both car birding and walking are included.
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This is a walking route within Marymoor Park and a wide variety of birds are usually seen in meadows and along the Sammamish River and shore of Lake Sammamish.
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Beginning at the Evans Creek Preserve the route follows Ames Lake-Carnation Road, the Powerline Trail, the Red Brick Road and Perigo Park in Redmond.
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The team drives between stops on the Sammamish Plateau and walks at Soaring Eagle Park, the Sammamish Commons, Beaver Lake Park, Pine Lake Park, Yellow Lake, and Klahanie Park.
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The route begins along Fish Hatchery Road at the Snoqualmie Falls Golf Course, and moves to Twin Rivers Golf Course, Lake Alice Road, and the Preston-Snoqualmie Trail. Includes both car birding and walking.
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This is a walking route that covers the boat launch and a trail within Lake Sammamish State Park, and the southern half of the East Lake Sammamish Trail.
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This is a walking route which begins in Redmond and covers an eastern section of Marymoor Park, and several stops along the northern half of the East Lake Sammamish Trail. There is some driving between stops.
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The route covers six parks along the western shore of Lake Sammamish including Idylwood Beach Park, Ardmore Park, Tam O’Shanter Park, and Weona Beach County Park. The team drives between parks and walks at each one.
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This is a walking route which traverses most of Lake Sammamish State Park mixing lakefront birding with woodland birding.
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This walking route begins at Phantom Lake in Bellevue and traverses the Greenbelt trail to Larsen Lake and Blueberry Farm. The team also drives to two other stops.
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This is a restricted area, and we are not seeking volunteers for this section.
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This route begins at Pickering Ponds and follows Issaquah Creek through Issaquah stopping at Confluence Park, Sycamore Creek and Tibbets Valley Park.
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This route follows the Issaquah Alps. It begins at Tradition Lake in Issaquah, and ascends to Lewis Creek Park, and then up into the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Nature Park at Red Town Trailhead and the Harvey Manning Trailhead for high elevation forest birding.