2025 Christmas Bird Count Results

With 85 species observed, this was the second highest total of species observed for the count. Our highest was 91 species in 2013.  This is the 3rd year in a row that we had greater than 80 species.  It is very strange that the overall worldwide trend is a decline of our Avian community, though our counts seem to be picking up more species.  We are not sure why that is except to say that some species are doing very well (Example: Bald Eagle, Common Raven, Red-shouldered Hawks, and woodpeckers in general) while others, such as American Kestrel and Common Grackle, are not.  We think that part of the increase in the species count may be related to the power of the observers.

When we look at the 2025 CBC species count and observations, it will be very interesting to see what transpires in the 2026 season.  This year was a mast year for acorns, beechnuts, hickories, and all kinds of fruits.  That might explain why we had so many species, like Blue Jays and fruit eaters like American Robins around.  A winter storm forced us to move the count date but did the storm push species into our area that would not have been here otherwise up until that time?  And even more important, what will happen to those same birds with the serious cold snap that covered most of the east and south for the winter of 2025/2026.   It is not like they could move south to better conditions. Did a lot of birds freeze to death this winter?   And will that be reflective in the populations come spring into fall of 2026?  Questions like this are why it is so important that we continue the count.

Here are some highlights for the 2025 Christmas Bird Count:

High Counts

  • Snow Goose:  There were 938 observations from 5 sections.  Our Average is 290.
  • American Black Duck: We had 62 observations.  Our average is 35.  This was the best year since 2010 and the 7th best for the species.
  • Common Goldeneye:  Our 13 sightings was the best count since 2016. The average is 8.
  • Hooded Merganser: Numbers were exceptional this year.  We had 125 observations, the highest total ever for the count.  Our average is 17.  The next closest year was 2016 with 50 observations.
  • Common Merganser:  We had 367 observations, which is the highest total for count.  Our average is 66.
  • Bald Eagle: We had 14 observations.  Our average is 4.  This is the 5th highest total for the count.
  • Cooper’s Hawk: We had 20 observations. This was the 3rd highest for the count.  Our average is 8. (Curious if the success of Cooper’s Hawks is to detriment of Sharp-shinned Hawks).
  • Red-shouldered Hawk: We had 26 observations.   Our average is 4.  This is the highest total ever for the count.
  • Red-tailed Hawk had 66 observations.  Our average is 75.  It makes for an interesting question moving forward as to whether Red-shoulders are displacing Red-tails in select habitats.
  • Merlin: We had 9 observations and the highest total ever for the count.  Our average is 1
  • Wild Turkey:  We had 9 sightings and the best count since 2018.  The average is 2.
  • Belted Kingfishers: We had 31 observations.  Our average is 24.  This is the 4th highest total for the count.
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker: We had 248 sightings.  Our average is 141.  This is the 4th highest total for the count.
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers  We had 79 observations, the highest total for the count.  Our average is 18.
  • Pileated Woodpeckers:  We had 34 observations and the 2nd highest total for the count. Our average is 6.  We remember when we had to go to Valley Forge National Park to see Pileated Woodpeckers.
  • Blue Jays: We had 632 observations.  This was the 3rd highest total for the count.  Our average is 307.
  • Common Ravens: We had 12 observations.  Average is 2.  This is the 2nd highest total for the species.
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch: We had 14 observations.  Our average is 5.  This was the best year since 2016.
  • Winter Wren made a good showing with 13 sightings.   Our average is 7.
  • Ruby-crowned kinglet: We had the 3rd highest total ever for the count with 29 birds observed.  RCKI has been showing up in increasing numbers since 2020. Our average is 9.
  • Hermit Thrush: We had the 3rd highest total for the count with 13 birds observed.  Our average is 5.
  • American Robin:  We had 2523 observations making for the 4th highest total for the count.  Our average is 1280.
  • Yellow-rumped Warblers:  We had 102 observations.  Our average is 46.  This was the 5th highest total.  It was a mast year for Poison Ivy, a key plant for wintering YRWA’s.
  • Dark-eyed Juncos: We had 1287 observations and the 5th highest total for the count.  Our average is 872.
  • Rusty Blackbird:  We had 8 observations, all reported from section 6.  This was the 2nd highest for the count and highest since 1998.  Our average is 1.
  • Purple Finch: We  had 18 observations.  Our average is 6.  The count has had greater than 10 purple finches reported since 2023.

Low Counts

  • Sharp-shinned Hawk: We had a count of 5.  Our average is 9.  This is the 8th lowest number for the count.  The count on SSHA has been in single digits since 2013.
  • American Kestrels:  We had 4 observations.  Our average is 14.  Kestrels have been in decline since mid 1990’s.  We had 54 observations in 1990.
  • Killdeer: Single birds were observed in Sections 8 & 10.  Our average is 5.
  • Field Sparrow:  We had 4 observations.  The 2nd lowest count and the lowest count since 2001.  Our average is 30.
  • Northern Cardinal: We had 304 observations.  This is the 5th lowest for the count and lowest since 2018.  Our average is 389.
  • Common Grackle:  We had 6 observations.  Our average is 273.  This species is becoming rarer in winter.

Trending Up

  • Mallards came in with 320 observations, which is the best year since 2017. Our average is 470.  (Look on our blog for an article about Mallard declines).
  • Carolina Chickadees increased from recent lows.  We had 193 observations.  Our average is 378.  This is the 2nd best year since the 2018 crash.
  • Tufted Titmouse had 144 observations.  Our average is 228.  This was the 2nd best year since the 2018 crash.
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet was close to average with 28 observations.  Our average is 34.
  • Thirteen Chipping Sparrows were observed in Sections 1,3, 4, & 10.  CHSP observations seem to be increasing since 2019.

Unusual Sightings

  • The only record for Pied-billed Grebe came from Section 4.
  • A single Cackling Goose from Section 1.
  • Two Northern Pintails and one Green-winged Teal from Section 6.
  • A single Barred Owl was observed in Sections 8 & 10.
  • Seven Herring Gulls.  Average is 21.   This is the best count since 2015.
  • A single sighting of Eastern Phoebes were great finds from Sections 6 & 8.
  • Two Fish Crows from Section 6.
  • Two Black-capped Chickadees from Section 8.
  • A Brown Thrasher from Section 11 was a great find.
  • Three observations of Orange-crowned Warblers from Section 6.
  • A single American Tree Sparrow in Sections 1 & 2.
  • Single Savannah Sparrows were seen in Sections 1 and 11.
  • The Vesper Sparrow in Section 2 was outstanding and a first for our count.  (VESP was noted on a past count week).
  • Single Fox Sparrows were observed in Sections 2, 6, & 8.
  • Single Swamp Sparrows were observed in Sections 3, 6, and 11.
  • A White-crowned Sparrow in Section 6 .

You can see the complete species list here.

Our Spring Bird Count is scheduled for June 6, 2026, and the Christmas Count is scheduled for December 26, 2026 (Nice ring to that date). please contact Vince Smith by May 30 to be assigned to a team