Date: 12/4/25 2:02 pm From: Jim Dehnert via groups.io <dehnert...> Subject: [southbaybirds] The Christmas Bird Count in Santa Clara County -- counters still needed! #CBC
This post is largely a repeat of the one before Thanksgiving. Most circles are still seeking participants – please reach out to the contacts given below if you can help! I’ve highlighted in red the cases I’ve read about in the past two days. You can get further information at the SCVBA CBC web page ( https://scvbirdalliance.org/christmas-bird-count ) , or from the circle coordinators. There is also added information on count circles in neighboring counties at the end.
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Origin and purpose : The annual Christmas Bird Count (held around Christmas-time, but not on Dec 25th!) is a fun and meaningful way to contribute to one of the longest-running community science projects in North America. Begun over a century ago as an alternative to shooting all the birds one could find on Christmas Day, it collects data that provides insight into bird populations and trends. Locally, the data indicates the bird species that are rising and falling in population and those that may be expanding into our area, showcases unusual birds that show up, and connects the community of birders.
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How it works : The CBC counts are organized into 15-mile diameter circles, and the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance organizes four circles in Santa Clara County. Unlike regular birding, this is an effort to cover a full circle as completely as possible on a single day, seeking to count all birds in the circle as completely as possible with minimal duplication. See the web page for more information on the circle locations, how SCVBA operates its count circles, and what it needs from participants.
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Circles and contacts : The remainder of this post will give you an overview of our count circles and opportunities to volunteer, and people to contact for each circle. For more information, start with our web page ( https://scvbirdalliance.org/christmas-bird-count ). Please send general questions to SCVBA Director Matthew Dodder ( <director...> ( <director...> ) ), SCVBA Education & Outreach Manager Carolyn Knight ( <programs...> ( <programs...> ) ), or myself ( <dehnert...> ( <dehnert...> ) ), and send circle-specific questions to the relevant circle coordinators below. Please do NOT respond to the full SBB email list.
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Santa Clara County: 4 circles
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San Jose (Sunday 12/14/2025 , Coordinator Mike Azevedo, <geochelone...> ( <geochelone...> ) ). ** Needed: high-intermediate birders to run parties, and general participants. **
This Count Circle reaches from the baylands of Alviso to downtown San Jose, and from Sunnyvale to the Hills to the East. If you are interested in participating, please complete the San Jose CBC Signup Form ( https://www.mobilize.us/audubon-community-science/event/868368/ ).
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Palo Alto (Monday 12/15/2025 , Coordinator Ann Hepenstal, <paloaltocbc...>). ** Needed: still a lot of holes to fill. **
This Count Circle encompasses parts of both Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, extending from the Bay to the Santa Cruz Mountains with territories in open space preserves, bayland areas, urban parks, and neighborhoods.
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Calero - Morgan Hill (Saturday 12/27/2025 , Coordinator Rick Herder, <rick.herder...> ( <rick.herder...> ) ). This Count Circle in south Santa Clara County stretches across the valley to foothills in both the Coast and Diablo ranges, and includes several creeks, lakes and wetlands. It covers city and county parks, open space preserves, water district reservoirs, and private properties, many not usually open to the public. Annual targets include both eagles, several falcons, Burrowing Owl, Grasshopper Sparrow, and a surprising variety of gulls.
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Mount Hamilton (Friday 1/2/2026 , Coordinator Bob Hirt, <bobhirt...> ( <bobhirt...> ) ). ** Needed: especially count leaders. **
This Count Circle is centered around Mount Hamilton, entirely contained in the East Bay Hills behind Joseph L Grant County Park, and extending south to a tip of Henry Coe SP.
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If you are interested in other counts, what follows is some information on counts in our neighboring counties. If anyone responsible for these (or other nearby) circles would like corrections, additions, elaboration, or removal in the next iteration of this message, please let me know at <dehnert...>
Crystal Springs (Saturday, 12/20/2025 ). This Count Circle covers northern San Mateo County from the SF Bay across the peninsula to Half Moon Bay. In 2024 112 people tallied 176 species in this circle.
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Año Nuevo (Saturday, 1/3/2026 ). This Count Circle covers the southwestern end of San Mateo County from about La Honda in the north to Año Nuevo in the SW. In 2024 77 people counted 149 species in this circle.
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San Francisco County is covered by a single circle:
** Especially needed: Counters for northern San Mateo County**
This Count Circle covers San Francisco and a sliver of northern San Mateo County. The 2024 Count had the highest count in the country for Townsend's Warblers with 539; White-crowned Sparrows with 3,480; Orchard Oriole with 4; Western Gull with 3,701; Anna's Hummingbird with 1,343; Red-Masked Parakeets with 208; Common Raven with 1,538 and Hermit Thrush with 395. It was also one of only three counts in the country to report a Grace's Warbler, and had the first ever Jouanin's Petrel for a CBC Count in the United States.
Santa Cruz (Saturday, 12/20/2025 , register here ( https://forms.gle/XKgzEyAuacCHYj5P8 ) , questions to compilers Nick Levendosky and Alex Rinkert a t <n.levendosky...> ( <n.levendosky...> ) ). Last year saw a near-record 125 birders participate and 47,124 birds of 184 species were tallied, the latter of which was the highest total since 2003. The count turned up a few exciting rare species including White Wagtail, Lark Bunting, Magnolia Warbler, Short-eared Owl, Barrow’s Goldeneye, and Black-footed Albatross.
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
