Christmas Bird Count
Volunteers participate in the Christmas Bird Count. Photo: Skyler Ballard / Audubon
History of the Christmas Bird Count
In 1900, early Audubon officer and ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed the first “Christmas Bird Census” as a conservation-minded alternative to the long tradition of the “Christmas Side Hunt”: a competition to shoot as many birds (and mammals) as possible. That first year, 27 Audubon Christmas Bird Counters conducted 25 observational counts across North America, tallying 90 species.
Today, thankfully, the “Christmas Side Hunt” is no more. And the Audubon Christmas Bird Count has grown quite a bit: in 2019, 2,615 counts were conducted by 79,425 observers, tallying 2,638 species across the Americas and the Pacific Islands. What began as an alternative to slaughtering birds has also become a crucial tool to protect them:
What's the Purpose of the Counts?
The over 120 years of data collected by Christmas Bird Count volunteers provides a fundamental way to understand the long-term health of bird populations:
- Count data has contributed to several recent and impactful reports on bird decline in North America, highlighting the many threats birds face and providing impetus for bird-friendly policies across the country to protect birds.
- The Christmas Bird Count also plays a crucial role in contributing data to Audubon’s Bird Migration Explorer, an interactive platform that allows users to track and explore the migratory journeys of over 450 bird species, highlighting the challenges they face along the way.
- Participating in the Christmas Bird Count is a great way to get into birding while contributing to scientific knowledge that can help us protect birds. Many counts, especially NYC Bird Alliance-hosted ones, are designed for anyone to get involved -- whether you are a seasoned ornithologist or brand new to birds!
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How to Get Involved with a Christmas Bird Count in NYC
Every December, NYC Bird Alliance is responsible for reporting data for the Lower Hudson Count Circle, which includes all of Manhattan and parts of New Jersey. We host counts all across the City, including Manhattan's Central Park! Separate counts are also coordinated by birding clubs in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
The Christmas Bird Count is normally held in each of NYC’s boroughs on a Saturday or Sunday in the second half of December. Information on how to get involved in all five NYC counts will be posted on our Volunteer Opportunities page by mid-November each year. Sign up for our eGret eNewsletter to get notified when registration opens.
Read more about the history of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, and see compiled nationwide data, on the National Audubon website.
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Results from Previous Central Park and New Jersey/Lower Hudson Counts
124th Audubon Christmas Bird Count - Central Park Results (2023)
124th Audubon Christmas Bird Count - New Jersey/Lower Hudson Results (2023)
123rd Audubon Christmas Bird Count - Central Park Results (2022)
123rd Audubon Christmas Bird Count - New Jersey/Lower Hudson Results (2022)
122nd Audubon Christmas Bird Count - Central Park Results (2021)
121st Audubon Christmas Bird Count - New Jersey/Lower Hudson Results (2020)
120th Audubon Christmas Bird Count - Central Park Results
