This year's Barnegat Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday, January 4,
2026. The weather was seasonably chilly with a high of 38 F and northwest
winds up to 14 mph. Species diversity was excellent with 133 species
reported and 29,880 individual birds tallied. Since 1970, species totals
for this count have ranged from 103 to 139 (averaging 122.9). This year
several species were reported for the first time: Greater White-fronted
Goose (previously only a count week bird), Ross’s Goose, Trumpeter Swan,
and Arctic Loon. Thirty-four birders joined the count this year. I’m
especially grateful to all the volunteers from the Watershed Ambassador
program, as well as Blais Brancheau, Jeff Climpson, Nishad Karthik, and
Vinobha Pannerselvam, who took over the southern LBI sector this year, and
to the rest of our sector leaders: Joe Barbieri, Doug Gill, Mike
Mandracchia, Rick Radis, Chris Thomas, Tim Vogel, Chris Williams, and Larry
Zirlin. Thanks so much to everyone who counted birds with us: Rachel
Adler, Don Crawford, Jill Curcio, R.J. Curcio, Christian De La Cruz, Jacob
DeRose, Kevin Foran, Josh Gant, Stephen Greenwood, Ken Hart, Amy Johnson,
Evan Knudsen, Bob Leifeste, Frank Lenik, Daniel Magda, Paul Shanahan,
Karenne Snow, George Steele, Alyssa Suder, Rick Van Kirk, Paula Williams,
and anyone whose name isn’t mentioned here (apologies). Thanks also to Ray
Brown and Chris Pancila of USFWS and Captain Cain Ernest.
