Audubon Christmas Bird Count

oin Conservancy staff and other naturalists to count and record different species of birds during a day trip into the wildlands of Catalina Island.
The Christmas Bird Count is a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society, where thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada and other countries in the Western Hemisphere go birding over a 24-hour period to contribute to an early-winter bird census. The data for these bird counts have long been used in hundreds of analyses, peer-reviewed publications and government reports.

Event Details

This event begins with transportation from the Trailhead Visitor Center at 6:30 a.m. Participants will be split into groups to cover parts of Catalina that fall within the official designated birding circle. The shuttle will return to Avalon at 1 p.m. for lunch provided by the Conservancy and discussion on birds seen throughout the day.
Day of boats do not depart earlier enough to participate in this excursion, so off-Island participants should consider staying over the night before. Ferry tickets and accommodations are the responsibility of individuals.

Things to Consider

Participants need to come prepared for a full day outside in the field, standing and walking. Sturdy, close-toed shoes, sun protection, and a re-fillable water bottle are recommended. Walking on uneven terrain should be expected. Some binoculars will be available, but bring your own binoculars and a notebook, if possible.

No experience is necessary to participate. We’ll provide field guides and training to help you learn how to collect and record data. A limited number of binoculars will also be available for participants who need them.