Christmas Bird Count 2023
Christmas Bird Count in the Lower East Side, Manhattan (December 18, 2022). Photo: Pat Arnow
The 124th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count—the nation's longest-running Community Science bird project—will soon be underway nationwide, and in all five boroughs of New York City.
Anyone can participate, even beginner birders! The data collected over the past century by volunteer observers, ranging from experienced ornithologists to casual nature enthusiasts, allow researchers to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. This family-friendly activity is a great way to explore our City's natural areas while contributing to valuable scientific research, and we encourage all to participate!
Anyone can participate, even beginner birders! The data collected over the past century by volunteer observers, ranging from experienced ornithologists to casual nature enthusiasts, allow researchers to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. This family-friendly activity is a great way to explore our City's natural areas while contributing to valuable scientific research, and we encourage all to participate!
Christmas Bird Counts in Manhattan and Northern New Jersey
NYC Audubon is coordinating counts for the New Jersey Lower Hudson (NJLH) count circle, which occur on Sunday, December 17, 2023 across all of Manhattan, Governors Island, Randall's Island, and parts of northern New Jersey. See the table below for all of our count locations and information on how to register. Count durations vary depending on location but volunteers are welcome to join even if they cannot stay for the entire time!
Location Meeting Time Registration Link Notes Bryant Park 8am Carl Schurz Park 8:15am Central Park 8am The count at Central Park will be followed by a compilation event at the Arsenal at 12:30pm. Please RSVP for the compilation event through the Central Park count registration form. All attendees must RSVP in advance. East Village 7:15am Governors Island 10:15am Harlem Parks 7:45am Includes Morningside Park, St Nicholas Park, and Jackie Robinson Park
Please note that this count will require following paved paths and as well as going up/down some steps and inclines.Hudson & Bergen Counties, NJ Contact Shayna Marchese at shayna.marchese@gmail.com to participate. Hudson Yards 2pm Inwood Hill 7:30am Includes Inwood Hill Park, Fort Tryon, the Met Cloisters, Isham Park, Swindler's Cove, and Highbridge Park. Lower East Side 9am Includes East River Park and Corlears Hook Park. Madison Square Park 8am Accessible “slow walk” count. NY Harbor & Lower Manhattan 8am Includes lower Manhattan between City Hall Park to Battery Park. Ends with a count on the Staten Island ferry from Whitehall Ferry Terminal to the Statue of Liberty. Randall’s Island 8:45am Riverside Park North 8am Covers Riverside Park above 96th St. Riverside Park South 8:30am Covers Riverside Park below 96th St. Stuyvesant Town & Cove 8:15am Union Square Park 9am Washington Square Park 9am
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.
