As I sit down to write the summary of the 124th Christmas Bird Count, I can’t help but reflect on my own experience with this wonderful program over the years. Like so many other birders, the Christmas Bird Count has touched my life in many ways. When I was first getting into birding, the CBC was the very first event that I reached out to my local ԼƵ chapter to join. I dragged my boyfriend along to what turned out to be an exciting (and frigid) day of birding around Lawrence, Kansas with the sector leader and his adorable 4-year-old daughter. We counted so many great birds that day, and I can still remember being blown away by the bright little Eastern Bluebirds that contrasted so perfectly with the gray Kansas winter.
During my young adulthood, I moved around the country for different jobs and school, and I joined the Christmas Bird Count wherever I happened to be each winter. When I started to pursue a career in wildlife conservation, the CBC became more than just an annual tradition to look forward to. I began seeing its impact in the scientific papers I was reading; papers that used this incredible dataset to further our understanding of the birds of the western hemisphere. I saw its impact as CBC data were used to make decisions about bird conservation. I also found an incredible community of birders who came together each year to bundle up, brave the weather, and count some birds. I am honored to help facilitate a program I’ve loved for so many years, and I am humbled to be following in Geoff LeBaron’s footsteps to write this summary. For nearly 40 years, he stewarded the CBC with great care and thoughtfulness and was always able to sum up each count in an entertaining and thorough narrative. Geoff retired earlier this year after decades of growing and maintaining this wonderful ԼƵ community science program.
So, let’s get into the summary. The 124th Christmas Bird Count was a record-breaker in many ways. Participation seems to have fully recovered from the dip during Covid, and there were 2677 counts completed (470 in Canada, 2019 in the United States, and 188 in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific Islands). This surpasses the previous high count of 2646 in the 120th CBC. Each year we welcome new counts into the program, and we established 43 new circles for the 124th CBC (6 in Canada, 12 in the United States, and 25 in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific Islands, Table 1). Cuba had an especially large expansion, with 16 new circles added.
We also had a record number of participants in the 124th CBC: 83,186 (72,129 field observers and 11,057 feeder watchers), which surpassed the record high of 81,601 in the 120th Count by over 1500 people. Breaking down these numbers further, we had 15,470 observers in Canada (11,848 field observers and 3622 feeder watchers), 63,657 observers in the United States (56,440 field observers and 7217 feeder watchers), and 4059 observers in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Pacific Islands (3841 field observers and 218 feeder watchers). The effort to organize this tremendous group of birders falls to the compilers, who have done an excellent job with, in some cases, very large numbers of participants collecting data across their circles. Table 2 lists the 90 Christmas Bird Counts that had 100 or more participants in the 124th CBC.
Although we didn’t break any records for species numbers, we still tallied a solid number of species on the 124th count. Participants documented 2380 species, plus 407 identifiable forms and hybrids. This is up from last year’s tally (2244 species), but fewer than many recent years (2554 during the 122nd, 2566 during the 120th, and 2638 during the 119th). Counts in Canada reported 301 species, and counts in the United States reported 667 species, 80 infraspecific forms, and 40 exotic species. The Mottled Owl at Falcon Dam S.P., Texas, was a new species for a U.S. CBC. The Gray-collared Becard and Fan-tailed Warbler at Brownsville, Texas, were also new, but they were only found during Count Week.
We added some great new species to our Christmas Bird Count list this year. These additions are due in part to the recent growth we’ve had in the number of CBC circles in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific Islands, as well as some exciting new finds from existing counts in these regions. The new species we tallied in the 124th CBC include an Amazonian Black-Tyrant, documented in Triángulo del Puma, Meta, Colombia, a Bearded Screech-Owl in Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, Duida Woodcreepers in both Tinajillas y Siete Iglesias, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador, and Rio Upano, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador, a Gray-throated Warbler in San Antonio del Tequendama, Cundinamarca, Colombia (a new circle this year), a Pacific Swift on Rota, C.N.M.I., and 6 Zapata Sparrows in Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba (a new circle this year).
As with every year, bird species and their occurrence patterns depend on the weather and environmental conditions both during and in the months leading up to the count. December 2023 and January 2024 were generally warmer than average with varying precipitation throughout the CBC region. We saw our warmest December on record across much of the western hemisphere. Early January was also generally warmer and wetter, with a few serious storms that occurred mostly after the CBC season had finalized. The Southwest, Northern Plains, Gulf Coast, and Great Lakes regions of the United States and eastern Brazil had significantly below-average precipitation, while we had above-average precipitation in the southern Plains to the Upper Midwest and along the East Coast of the United States, in the Northwestern part of Canada, and in Argentina.
These warmer winter conditions across North America seemed to have kept some birds around later in the season and even over the winter. The 124th Christmas Bird Count documented quite a few migratory species that stuck around at higher latitudes or showed up in interesting places. In the Eastern United States, species such as the Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler were documented on CBCs from South Carolina and up through the mid-Atlantic and New England. Lewis’s Woodpeckers were spotted at two circles in Montana, having overwintered regularly in recent years. North Carolina had an exciting first CBC record, a Roseate Spoonbill that was the first wintering spoonbill record for the state.
The middle of North America also had good years for warblers and other migratory species, with Tennessee, Palm and Orange-crowned Warblers showing up or sticking around in midwestern states, and Black-throated Blue, Tennessee, and Yellow-throated Warblers appearing on counts in western states. Texas alone tallied 22 species of warblers. California had a great year for wintering flycatchers, with Eastern Phoebes, Tropical Kingbirds, Western Kingbirds, Dusky-capped Flycatchers, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (the first state winter record), and a new high count for Vermillion Flycatchers. Hummingbirds also dazzled CBC counters this year, from Kentucky’s first Allen’s Hummingbird documented on the Somerset CBC, to three overwintering Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in New Jersey, to a Calliope Hummingbird in Virginia and a Black-chinned Hummingbird that overwintered in Manhattan.
A notable weather event affecting the 124th CBC was Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 storm that hit Florida at the end of August. Strong winds from the storm blew American Flamingoes off course during their migration from Cuba to Yucatán, Mexico, and they began showing up in all sorts of places throughout the eastern half of the United States. Flamingoes likely lingering from the storm were counted on several CBCs in Florida and one in South Carolina – a first record for this species in the state.
During this count, we continued to observe the recent northward expansion of Limpkins across the United States. This species originally occurred in the southernmost parts of the United States and into Central and South America, but the warming climate and new food resources have enabled Limpkins to push much further north. Limpkins were counted on CBCs across North America in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana (first CBC record for the state), Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan (first CBC record for the state), Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina (first CBC record for the state), Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (a big expansion over the three seasons), Virginia, West Virginia, and Ontario, Canada. Although their range may be expanding, their actual population numbers may not be. Florida had a decrease in Limpkin numbers over four of the past five seasons, with 855 individuals on 51 counts in the 124th CBC compared with numbers in the 1000-2000 range for past seasons.
One benchmark for Christmas Bird Counts (at least for folks who are lucky to do their counts in areas of high diversity) is documenting 150 species or more. All of the Christmas Bird Counts that tallied at least 150 species are listed in Table 3. Participants can also strive to find the most species in their region, regardless of whether 150 species is a possibility. These High Species Counts by Region can be found in Table 4, and might reflect effort, weather and local conditions on count day, and of course, luck.
Finally, we have the total number of birds. During the 124th Christmas Bird Count, participants counted 40,871,030 birds. This includes 36,853,154 birds in the United States, 3,549,046 in Canada, and 464,913 in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific Islands. Although slightly up from last year’s 40,298,635 birds, this number is alarmingly low. Each year, we increase the effort and geographic coverage of the Christmas Bird Count, and yet we continue to see overall declines in the total birds counted. This shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who has been following the state of the birds in our hemisphere, but it should be alarming, heartbreaking, and – most of all – catalyzing. There are choices we can make to change this pattern and bend the bird curve to secure their future. Even small changes like avoiding pesticides and plastics, drinking bird-friendly coffee, planting native plants around our homes, and making our windows bird-safe can have meaningful and significant impacts for our bird populations.
After spending this time reviewing and summarizing the 124th Christmas Bird Count, I am left with a feeling of deep gratitude. To all of the participants, compilers, and regional editors who spend hours each year counting birds, compiling, submitting, and reviewing data to make this program a success – thank you! We truly couldn’t do this without you.
Tables
Table 1. New counts in the 124th (2023-2024) Christmas Bird Count
Count Code |
Count Name |
Canada |
|
ABTV |
Tawatinaw Valley, Alberta |
NBMN |
Minto, New Brunswick |
NUIQ |
Iqaluit, Nunavut |
ONCW |
Coldwater, Ontario |
QCAM |
Amos, Quebec |
SKRL |
Redberry Lake, Saskatchewan |
United States |
|
CATS |
Shingletown, California |
KYBK |
Breckinridge County, Kentucky |
MIMK |
Mio, Michigan |
MNCW |
Clearwater, Minnesota |
MOCA |
Cass County, Missouri |
MOGP |
Grand Pass, Missouri |
PAMV |
Mon Valley, Pennsylvania |
SCYE |
Yemassee, South Carolina |
TNGV |
Greeneville, Tennessee |
TXHE |
Henderson County, Texas |
VADR |
Dragon Run, Virginia |
WIBC |
Beaver Creek Reserve, Wisconsin |
Latin America |
|
CLFM |
Funza-Mosquerq-Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
CLLD |
La Dorada, Caldas, Colombia |
CLLR |
La Pedrera-Parque Nacional Natural Río Puré, Amazonas, Colombia |
CLTQ |
San Antonio del Tequendama, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
CLVG |
Camino real Guadas-Villeta, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
CRTS |
Térraba-Sierpe, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
CUCA |
Ciego de Ávila, C. de Ávila, Cuba |
CUCC |
Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba |
CUEI |
Ensenada del Inglés, Cienfuegos, Cuba |
CUGC |
Guayos, Cabaiguán, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba |
CUGU |
Guardalavaca, Holguín, Cuba |
CUHE |
Habana del Este, La Habana, Cuba |
CUHO |
Holguín, Holguín, Cuba |
CUIT |
Isla de Turiguanó, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba |
CULT |
Las Tunas, Las Tunas, Cuba |
CUMA |
Matanzas, Matanzas, Cuba |
CUMC |
Monte Cabaniguan, Las Tunas, Cuba |
CUMV |
Mataguá, Villa Clara, Cuba |
CUSA |
San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa, Cuba |
CUSC |
Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba |
CUSM |
Songo-La Maya, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba |
CUSR |
Sierra del Rosaria, Artemisa, Cuba |
GMPT |
Punta Trifinio, Guatemala-El Salvador-Honduras |
MXCD |
Córdoba, Veracruz, México |
MXVE |
Veracruz Metropolitano, Veracruz, México |
Table 2. Counts with 100 or more participants in the 124th (2023-2024) Christmas Bird Count
Code |
Count Name |
# Observers |
(Field + Feeder) |
ABED |
Edmonton |
535 |
(292 + 243) |
BCVI |
Victoria |
405 |
(361 + 44) |
ORPD |
Portland |
349 |
(247 + 102) |
WASE |
Seattle |
331 |
(250 + 81) |
SCHH |
Hilton Head Island |
326 |
(247 + 79) |
NJLH |
Lower Hudson |
311 |
(311 + 0) |
CAOA |
Oakland |
304 |
(267 + 37) |
OREU |
Eugene |
291 |
(190 + 101) |
MACO |
Concord |
285 |
(173 + 112) |
MANO |
Northampton |
255 |
(214 + 41) |
ORRD |
Redmond |
252 |
(23 + 229) |
ABCA |
Calgary |
247 |
(130 + 117) |
MAGB |
Greater Boston |
241 |
(130 + 111) |
PAPI |
Pittsburgh |
233 |
(185 + 48) |
WIMA |
Madison |
228 |
(199 + 29) |
DCDC |
Washington |
224 |
(223 + 1) |
ECNM |
Mindo-Tandayapa, Pichincha, Ecuador |
209 |
(132 + 77) |
COCS |
Colorado Springs |
204 |
(180 + 24) |
WAOL |
Olympia |
199 |
(96 + 103) |
CASF |
San Francisco |
193 |
(191 + 2) |
ONOH |
Ottawa-Gatineau |
193 |
(161 + 32) |
BCGS |
Galiano-North Saltspring |
189 |
(156 + 33) |
CAPR |
Point Reyes Peninsula |
186 |
(185 + 1) |
COBO |
Boulder |
182 |
(182 + 0) |
BCVA |
Vancouver |
178 |
(151 + 27) |
CARI |
Richmond |
174 |
(166 + 8) |
VAFB |
Fort Belvoir |
174 |
(158 + 16) |
MDSE |
Seneca |
173 |
(157 + 16) |
CASB |
Santa Barbara |
170 |
(169 + 1) |
NYIT |
Ithaca |
170 |
(159 + 11) |
CASD |
San Diego |
169 |
(169 + 0) |
VACL |
Central Loudon |
168 |
(167 + 1) |
WAEV |
Everett-Marysville |
167 |
(92 + 75) |
WAED |
Edmonds |
164 |
(106 + 58) |
ONLO |
London |
156 |
(135 + 21) |
CAOC |
Orange County (coastal) |
152 |
(152 + 0) |
IDBO |
Boise |
152 |
(114 + 38) |
CAPA |
Palo Alto |
150 |
(143 + 7) |
BCPM |
Pitt Meadows |
149 |
(139 + 10) |
ONTO |
Toronto |
149 |
(134 + 15) |
AKAN |
Anchorage |
147 |
(109 + 38) |
CODV |
Denver (urban) |
147 |
(138 + 9) |
WASD |
Sequim-Dungeness |
147 |
(122 + 25) |
ONKG |
Kingston |
143 |
(64 + 79) |
FLSR |
Sarasota |
142 |
(140 + 2) |
NSHD |
Halifax-Dartmouth |
142 |
(108 + 34) |
UTSL |
Salt Lake City |
142 |
(137 + 5) |
AKFA |
Fairbanks |
139 |
(79 + 60) |
NYBR |
L.I.: Brooklyn |
137 |
(135 + 2) |
CASC |
Santa Cruz County |
135 |
(130 + 5) |
FLGA |
Gainesville |
135 |
(125 + 10) |
BCPI |
Pender Islands |
131 |
(106 + 25) |
COEI |
Evergreen-Idaho Springs |
129 |
(86 + 43) |
NYBW |
Bronx-Westchester Region |
129 |
(126 + 3) |
AZTV |
Tucson Valley |
127 |
(121 + 6) |
BCSS |
Sidney-South Saltspring |
127 |
(111 + 16) |
TXSC |
Spring Creek |
125 |
(104 + 21) |
MBWI |
Winnipeg |
124 |
(86 + 38) |
COFC |
Fort Collins |
123 |
(106 + 17) |
MIAA |
Ann Arbor |
123 |
(98 + 25) |
QCQU |
Quebec |
121 |
(116 + 5) |
CLSB |
Sabana de Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
119 |
(119 + 0) |
CODE |
Denver |
119 |
(110 + 9) |
FLEB |
Estero Bay |
117 |
(115 + 2) |
CARS |
Rancho Santa Fe |
116 |
(110 + 6) |
MNMW |
Minneapolis (west) |
116 |
(115 + 1) |
OHCF |
Cuyahoga Falls |
116 |
(111 + 5) |
CAMR |
Morro Bay |
115 |
(111 + 4) |
CRLS |
La Selva, Lower Braulio Carillo N.P., Costa Rica |
114 |
(114 + 0) |
MTMI |
Missoula |
113 |
(91 + 22) |
CASJ |
San Jose |
112 |
(112 + 0) |
CAVE |
Ventura |
112 |
(101 + 11) |
ONAL |
Algonquin P.P. |
112 |
(111 + 1) |
OHLK |
Lakewood |
111 |
(95 + 16) |
CAOV |
Oceanside-Vista-Carlsbad |
110 |
(109 + 1) |
ONHA |
Hamilton |
110 |
(100 + 10) |
BCDU |
Duncan |
109 |
(103 + 6) |
BCLA |
Ladner |
109 |
(102 + 7) |
VAWI |
Williamsburg |
109 |
(58 + 51) |
BCWR |
White Rock-Surrey-Langley |
108 |
(91 + 17) |
CRMO |
Monteverde, Costa Rica |
108 |
(108 + 0) |
CAWS |
Western Sonoma County |
107 |
(103 + 4) |
OHCI |
Cincinnati |
106 |
(103 + 3) |
CACS |
Crystal Springs |
105 |
(103 + 2) |
OHCO |
Columbus |
104 |
(102 + 2) |
TXMM |
Matagorda County-Mad Island Marsh |
104 |
(104 + 0) |
ORSA |
Salem |
103 |
(66 + 37) |
CTHA |
Hartford |
102 |
(98 + 4) |
FLVE |
Venice-Englewood |
101 |
(100 + 1) |
MAGO |
Groton-Oxbow N.W.R. |
101 |
(81 + 20) |
Table 3: Counts with 150 or more species recorded in the 124th (2023-2024) Christmas Bird Count
Table 3a: Counts north of the United States-Mexican border
Count Code |
Rank |
Count Name |
Species Recorded |
1 |
TXMM |
Matagorda County-Mad Island Marsh |
225 |
2 |
CASD |
San Diego |
223 |
3 |
TXGF |
Guadalupe River Delta-McFaddin Family Ranches |
222 |
4 |
TXFR |
Freeport |
207 |
5 |
CARS |
Rancho Santa Fe |
197 |
6 |
CATO |
Thousand Oaks |
195 |
7 |
CAPR |
Point Reyes Peninsula |
194 |
7 |
CASB |
Santa Barbara |
194 |
8 |
CACS |
Crystal Springs |
193 |
8 |
CAOV |
Oceanside-Vista-Carlsbad |
193 |
9 |
CAOC |
Orange County (coastal) |
190 |
10 |
CACB |
Centerville Beach to King Salmon |
187 |
10 |
CAMR |
Morro Bay |
187 |
11 |
CAMD |
Moss Landing |
186 |
11 |
CAOA |
Oakland |
186 |
12 |
CARI |
Richmond |
185 |
13 |
TXJC |
Jackson-Calhoun Counties |
184 |
14 |
CAAR |
Arcata |
183 |
14 |
TXCC |
Corpus Christi |
183 |
15 |
CAVE |
Ventura |
179 |
16 |
CAHF |
Hayward-Fremont |
178 |
16 |
CALB |
Long Beach-el Dorado |
178 |
16 |
CAMP |
Monterey Peninsula |
178 |
16 |
CASF |
San Francisco |
178 |
17 |
CALA |
Los Angeles |
176 |
18 |
FLGA |
Gainesville |
174 |
19 |
CASJ |
San Jose |
173 |
19 |
FLSR |
Sarasota |
173 |
20 |
CASC |
Santa Cruz County |
171 |
21 |
CAWS |
Western Sonoma County |
170 |
22 |
CACN |
Carpinteria |
168 |
22 |
CAMC |
Marin County (southern) |
168 |
22 |
CAPP |
Palos Verdes Peninsula |
168 |
22 |
TXGA |
Galveston |
168 |
23 |
TXLA |
Laguna Atascosa N.W.R. |
166 |
23 |
TXWG |
West End Galveston Island |
166 |
24 |
TXWS |
Weslaco |
165 |
25 |
CACT |
Cheep Thrills |
164 |
25 |
CAPS |
Pasadena-San Gabriel Valley |
164 |
26 |
CAPA |
Palo Alto |
163 |
26 |
FLJA |
Jacksonville |
163 |
26 |
SCLP |
Litchfield-Pawleys Island |
163 |
26 |
TXCF |
Corpus Christi (Flour Bluff) |
163 |
27 |
CASZ |
Sonoma Valley |
162 |
27 |
SCWB |
Winyah Bay |
162 |
27 |
TXCT |
Coastal Tip |
162 |
27 |
TXHG |
Harlingen |
162 |
28 |
TXCK |
Choke Canyon |
161 |
29 |
CADN |
Del Norte County |
160 |
29 |
NCWI |
Wilmington |
160 |
30 |
GASV |
Savannah, GA-SC |
159 |
30 |
NJCM |
Cape May |
159 |
30 |
TXAP |
Attwater Prairie Chicken N.W.R. |
159 |
30 |
TXSB |
San Bernard N.W.R. |
159 |
31 |
FLNP |
North Pinellas |
158 |
32 |
CASA |
Santa Ana River Valley |
156 |
32 |
NCMC |
Morehead City |
156 |
32 |
TXPO |
Powderhorn |
156 |
33 |
CACC |
Contra Costa County |
155 |
33 |
DECH |
Cape Henlopen-Prime Hook |
155 |
33 |
LALT |
Lacassine N.W.R.-Thornwell |
155 |
33 |
LAPI |
Palmetto Island |
155 |
34 |
AZGV |
Green Valley-Madera Canyon |
154 |
34 |
CAAN |
Año Nuevo |
154 |
34 |
CAON |
Orange County (northeastern) |
154 |
34 |
FLNR |
West Pasco (New Port Richey) |
154 |
34 |
TXBR |
Brazoria-Columbia Bottomlands |
154 |
35 |
CAMU |
Malibu |
153 |
35 |
ORCV |
Coquille Valley |
153 |
35 |
SCSI |
Sea Islands |
153 |
35 |
TXFD |
Falcon Dam and S.P. |
153 |
36 |
FLWP |
West Palm Beach |
152 |
36 |
VACC |
Cape Charles |
152 |
37 |
CASL |
San Jacinto Lake |
151 |
37 |
CASM |
Sacramento |
151 |
37 |
TXPA |
Port Aransas |
151 |
38 |
CARC |
Rio Cosumnes |
150 |
38 |
CASX |
Sherman Island |
150 |
38 |
FLSB |
South Brevard County |
150 |
38 |
FLSP |
St. Petersburg |
150 |
38 |
NCBP |
Bodie-Pea Island |
150 |
38 |
ORTB |
Tillamook Bay |
150 |
38 |
TXBP |
Bolivar Peninsula |
150 |
Table 3b: Counts south of the United States-Mexican border
Count Code |
Rank |
Count Name |
Species Recorded |
ECSN |
1 |
Sumaco, Napo, Ecuador |
412 |
CRLS |
2 |
La Selva, Lower Braulio Carillo N.P., Costa Rica |
372 |
CRMO |
3 |
Monteverde, Costa Rica |
363 |
ECNM |
4 |
Mindo-Tandayapa, Pichincha, Ecuador |
335 |
ECLI |
5 |
Reserva Biológica Limoncocha, Sucumbíos, Ecuador |
288 |
CRCT |
6 |
Coto Brus, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
285 |
MXSB |
7 |
San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico |
277 |
GMLT |
8 |
Laguna del Tigre N.P.-Las Guacamayas Biological Station, Petén, Guatemala |
272 |
BLSL |
9 |
Spanish Lookout, Cayo, Belize |
265 |
ECYE |
10 |
Yacuma Ecolodge, Napo, Ecuador |
259 |
RPPC |
11 |
Pacific Canal Area, Panama |
253 |
ECCH |
12 |
Chiles-Chical, Carchi, Ecuador-Colombia |
251 |
CROP |
13 |
Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
250 |
ECHL |
14 |
Humedal La Segua, Chone, Manabi, Ecuador |
241 |
ECRU |
15 |
Rio Upano, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador |
231 |
RPCC |
16 |
Central Canal Area, Panama |
228 |
CLBB |
17 |
Rio Barbas-Bremen Natural Reserve, Quindío, Colombia |
221 |
BLCB |
18 |
Cockscomb Basin, Belize |
218 |
ECMA |
19 |
Machalilla-Ayampe, Manabí, Ecuador |
217 |
BLMF |
20 |
Maya Forest Corridor, Belize District, Belize |
214 |
TRTR |
21 |
Trinidad |
207 |
CRPV |
22 |
Palo Verde N.P., Guanacaste, Costa Rica |
205 |
BLBC |
23 |
Belize City, Belize |
201 |
GMCO |
23 |
Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala |
201 |
ECTS |
24 |
Tinajillas y Siete Iglesias, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador |
200 |
CRSR |
25 |
Santa Rosa - Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica |
197 |
CLTQ |
26 |
San Antonio del Tequendama, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
194 |
MXBB |
27 |
Bahia Banderas, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México |
191 |
CRCO |
28 |
Corcovado N.P., Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
187 |
BLBE |
29 |
Belmopan, Belize |
186 |
BLPG |
30 |
Punta Gorda, Belize |
184 |
BLGJ |
31 |
Gallon Jug, Belize |
183 |
ECCC |
32 |
Cumandá, Chimborazo, Ecuador |
182 |
MXSP |
33 |
San Pancho-La Cruz-Punta de Mita, Nayarit, México |
180 |
MXCZ |
34 |
Coast of Central Veracruz, México |
178 |
CLIZ |
35 |
Ibague Zona Central, Tolima, Colombia |
176 |
GMTK |
35 |
Tikal, Guatemala |
176 |
CLFC |
36 |
Farallones de Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia |
174 |
CRCA |
37 |
Cacao-Area de Conservacion Guancaste, Costa Rica |
173 |
CLCO |
38 |
Cordillera Occidental, Valle del Cauca, Colombia |
171 |
MXES |
39 |
Ensenada, Baja California, México |
168 |
ECRG |
39 |
Runahurco-Gualaquiza, Morona Santiago, Ecuador |
168 |
MXVE |
40 |
Veracruz Metropolitano, Veracruz, México |
166 |
MXCD |
41 |
Córdoba, Veracruz, México |
165 |
NIRJ |
42 |
Reserva El Jaguar, Jinotega, Nicaragua |
163 |
ECSU |
42 |
Sucua, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador |
163 |
RPAC |
43 |
Atlantic Canal Area, Panama |
162 |
MXAL |
44 |
Alamos, Sonora, México |
160 |
MXLN |
44 |
Laguna de Chapala, Jalisco, México |
160 |
MXMM |
45 |
Reserva Monte Mojino (REMM), Sonora, México |
159 |
MXSA |
46 |
Sierra del Águila, Jalisco, México |
158 |
MXMN |
47 |
Morelos Norte, Morelos, México |
157 |
MXNY |
47 |
Northeastern Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula (Rio Lagartos), México |
157 |
ECGP |
48 |
Galbula Pastaza, Fatima, Pastaza, Ecuador |
156 |
ECRA |
49 |
Rancho Aleman, Guayas, Ecuador |
154 |
CLVV |
49 |
Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia |
154 |
NIPI |
50 |
Paso del Itsmo Biological Corridor, Rivas, Nicaragua |
152 |
CLAS |
51 |
Antioquia Sur, Colombia |
151 |
MXLP |
51 |
Lago de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México |
151 |
Table 4: Regional high counts for the 124th (2023-2024) Christmas Bird Count
Region |
# of CBCs |
Highest Count (species total) |
Alaska |
38 |
Kodiak (80) |
Alabama |
13 |
Gulf Shores (140) |
Arkansas |
30 |
Holla Bend N.W.R. (117) |
Arizona |
37 |
Green Valley-Madera Canyon (154) |
California |
129 |
San Diego (223) |
Colorado |
52 |
Pueblo Reservoir (129) |
Connecticut |
19 |
New Haven (131) |
Washington, D.C. |
1 |
Washington (100) |
Delaware |
7 |
Cape Henlopen-Prime Hook (155) |
Florida |
78 |
Gainesville (174) |
Georgia |
28 |
Savannah, GA-SC (159) |
Iowa |
36 |
Saylorville Reservoir (102) |
Idaho |
28 |
Boise (108) |
Illinois |
69 |
Rend Lake (108) |
Indiana |
46 |
Western Gibson County (105) |
Kansas |
27 |
Lawrence (98) |
Kentucky |
41 |
East Allen County (97) |
Louisiana |
29 |
Lacassine N.W.R.-Thornwell (155) and Palmetto Island (155) |
Massachusetts |
33 |
Mid-Cape Cod (144) |
Maryland |
25 |
Ocean City (143) |
Maine |
34 |
York County (101) |
Michigan |
75 |
Monroe (87) |
Minnesota |
86 |
Duluth (61) and Excelsior (61) |
Missouri |
33 |
Dade County (114) |
Mississippi |
17 |
Jackson County (139) |
Montana |
31 |
Missoula (86) |
North Carolina |
53 |
Wilmington (160) |
North Dakota |
17 |
Fargo-Moorhead (67) |
Nebraska |
17 |
Harlan County (94) |
New Hampshire |
18 |
Coastal New Hampshire (118) |
New Jersey |
28 |
Cape May (159) |
New Mexico |
28 |
Caballo (121) |
Nevada |
18 |
Truckee Meadows (115) |
New York |
76 |
L.I.: Southern Nassau County (146) |
Ohio |
69 |
Caesar Creek-Spring Valley (91) and Millersburg (91) |
Oklahoma |
17 |
Red Slough (121) |
Oregon |
47 |
Coquille Valley (153) |
Pennsylvania |
82 |
Southern Bucks County (107) |
Rhode Island |
4 |
South Kingstown (136) |
South Carolina |
29 |
Litchfield-Pawleys Island (163) |
South Dakota |
17 |
Pierre (80) |
Tennessee |
30 |
Duck River (136) |
Texas |
122 |
Matagorda County-Mad Island Marsh (225) |
Utah |
24 |
Salt Lake City (117) |
Virginia |
53 |
Cape Charles (152) |
Vermont |
20 |
Ferrisburg (87) |
Washington |
46 |
Sequim-Dungeness (147) |
Wisconsin |
108 |
Madison (94) |
West Virginia |
22 |
Morgantown (95) |
Wyoming |
18 |
Casper (58) |
Alberta |
54 |
Calgary (54) |
British Columbia |
85 |
Ladner (146) |
Manitoba |
22 |
Winnipeg (50) |
New Brunswick |
47 |
Cape Tormentine (72) |
Newfoundland & Labrador |
10 |
St. John's (68) |
Nova Scotia |
33 |
Halifax-Dartmouth (118) |
Northwest Territories |
4 |
Hay River (17) |
Nunavut |
2 |
Iqaluit (6) |
Ontario |
131 |
Long Point (113) |
Prince Edward Island |
3 |
Hillsborough (61) |
Quebec |
41 |
Quebec (79) |
Saskatoon |
27 |
Saskatoon (45) |
Yukon Territory |
11 |
Whitehorse (25) |
Bahamas |
7 |
Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas (91) |
Belize |
7 |
Spanish Lookout, Cayo, Belize (87) |
Bermuda |
1 |
Bermuda (102) |
British Virgin Islands |
2 |
Tortola, British V.I. (52) |
Colombia |
47 |
Rio Barbas-Bremen Natural Reserve, Quindío, Colombia (221) |
Costa Rica |
9 |
La Selva, Lower Braulio Carillo N.P., Costa Rica (372) |
Cuba |
20 |
Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba (86) |
Dominican Republic |
2 |
Puerto Escondido, Dominican Republic (101) |
Ecuador |
16 |
Sumaco, Napo, Ecuador (412) |
El Salvador |
1 |
Suchitoto, Cuscatlán, El Salvador (111) |
Guam |
2 |
Southern Guam, Guam (25) |
Guatemala |
5 |
Laguna del Tigre N.P.-Las Guacamayas Biological Station, Petén, Guatemala (272) |
Hawai'i |
14 |
Hawai'i: North Kona (59) |
Mexico |
48 |
San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico (277) |
Nicaragua |
4 |
Reserva El Jaguar, Jinotega, Nicaragua (163) |
Pacific Islands |
3 |
Saipan, C.N.M.I. (33) |
Panama |
4 |
Pacific Canal Area, Panama (253) |
Puerto Rico |
5 |
Cabo Rojo (127) |
Tobago |
2 |
Delaford, Eastern Tobago, Tobago (78) |
Trinidad |
1 |
Trinidad (207) |
U.S. Virgin Islands |
3 |
St. John, USVI (66) |