Bird Surveys

Corvallis CBC

2025 CBC Results
2026 CBC December 16

The 65th Corvallis Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place on December 16, 2025. At the Corvallis Airport, the weather was cloudy but dry through the daylight hours, but 0.2 inch of rain fell between sunset and midnight. Temperatures ranged from 51–60 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the day, and winds were generally from the south at 5–25 miles per hour.

A total of 66 field observers and feeder watchers counted 41,513 birds of 125 species on the count day. For comparison, the numbers for the previous three CBCs were 63,816 birds of 120 species in 2024; 92,531 birds of 126 species in 2023; and 83,976 birds of 121 species in 2022.

As is typical for the Corvallis CBC, the most abundant species counted in 2025 were European Starling (24.8%) and Cackling Goose (7.9%). They were followed by Dark-eyed Junco (4.6%), Canada Goose (3.9%), Mallard (3.7%), Red-winged Blackbird (3.7%), and Ring-billed Gull (3.4%).

New records were set for the number of birds seen in several species, including Short-billed Gull (1,055 vs. a previous high of 1,050), Steller’s Jay (470 vs. 379), Downy Woodpecker (63 vs. 61), Great Egret (52 vs. 34), Red-shouldered Hawk (21 vs. 17), and Turkey Vulture (3 vs. 2). Turkey Vultures are rare in the Willamette Valley during December, although they were observed in three previous Corvallis CBCs, most recently in 2018.

Two species were seen during the count week, which ran from December 13–19, but not on the count day: Northern Shrike and Long-billed Curlew. One Northern Shrike was observed at Finley National Wildlife Refuge on December 15. Northern Shrikes are often found on the Corvallis CBC, having been recorded in 52 previous years, with a high of 11 individuals in 1977. Four Long-billed Curlews were reported between Peoria and Halsey on December 19. This is the first time that species has been recorded on the Corvallis CBC, although a pair of individuals were seen near Halsey in December 2020.
The 2026 CBC will be announced soon. Contact CBC organizer.

Learn More: Download 2025 CBC Results
National Audubon Society CBC website

History
The first Corvallis CBC was held on December 26, 1912, but the next count was not held until 1962. The CBC has been held every year since then. The Corvallis CBC is traditionally held on the Tuesday before Christmas. Everybody is invited – and participation is free.

Corvallis count sectors
The Corvallis count circle has a 7.5-mile radius centered near the Corvallis airport and is divided into 13 sectors, with a team of 3-6 individuals assigned to each sector by Bev Clark (see map link below). Team leaders for each sector will make arrangements with the rest of their group for a meeting place and time (usually between 7:00 and 7:30 am the morning of the count. Participants should bring cold- and wet-weather gear, binoculars, a spotting scope if you have one, and a notepad and pencil or electronic recording device. A field guide, camera, snacks, and thermos with a hot beverage are also recommended. Contact Christmas Bird Count organizer.
Corvallis CBC map

Bird feeder count
Instructions: Record the number of each species you observe at your feeders, in your yard, and in the air above your yard on the Count Day only. For each species, record only the greatest number of individual birds seen at one time; do not tally all birds seen during the day as that is likely to result in counting the same birds multiple times. If you observe a species that isn’t listed below, please add it at the end of the list. If you see any species at your feeders or in your yard 3 days before or 3 days after the Count Day that you don’t see on the Count Day, write “cw” next to their name. If you have any questions, contact CBC organizer (ChristmasBirdCount@mwbirdalliance.org); 541-231-7201). Send your form by December 23 to: Matt Lee or 670 NW Mirador Pl., Corvallis, OR 97330).

To download the 2025 bird feeder checklist, click here.

Albany/Airlie CBC

Fifty participants, including 7 feeder watchers participated in the 2025 Airlie-Albany CBC on January first. They logged 186 hours over 458 miles. There were 43,000 recorded individuals. Our species count of 125 is one of the highest in 27 years. Rare species (encountered on fewer than 20% of previous counts) included a Redhead drake and a Western Grebe found by M. and B. Cannon and a Lewis’s Woodpecker found by Lars Norgren. The only common species (>80% of previous surveys) not observed this year was the Brown-headed Cowbird. We had some lowland field flooding that reduced the number of blackbird sightings in general.
Compiled by Misty Cannon

2026 CBC Results TBA

Airlie-Albany count sectors

The count circle for the Airlie-Albany CBC includes Corvallis north of Crescent Valley High School, most of Albany, E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Luckiamute State Natural Area, Ankeny NWR, the southern outskirts of Monmouth-Independence, and more. If you’d like to participate, especially if you enjoy walking in McDonald-Dunn State Forest, please contact Joel Geier.

Airlie-Albany CBC Map

Other Bird Counts

• Project Feeder Watch – Cornell Lab of Ornithology winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders in local areas. Send your count to Project FeederWatch to help scientists track long-term trends. Anyone interested in birds can participate.
• Great Backyard Bird Count – The next count is Feb. 18 – 21, 2022. More than 160,000 people of all ages join the four-day count to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.
• Oregon Black Oystercatcher Project – The goal is to provide new information about Oregon population estimates, nesting success, and human disturbance. The surveys are conducted on the North, Central, and South Coast from May to November.