High Country Christmas Bird Counts

Audubon's  Christmas Bird Count is "the nations longest-running citizen-science project"

• WHAT?     Count birds!
• WHERE?  in a circle 15 miles in diameter, at several locations below.
• WHO?       Every able-bodied person who likes wildlife!
• WHEN?     a single day near christmas, between 12/14 and 1/5, see below for this year's dates.
• WHY?       Know nature without harm, gather useful data
• HOW?       Sign up with Guy (badgerboy AT wilkes DOT net).

HCAS runs the counts below (click for details) with this year's dates: 

• Mount Jefferson-12/14/2026 (Monday)
  
• Stone Mountain- 12/20/2026 (Sunday)
  
• Wilkesboro (Upper Yadkin)-  1/3/2027 (Sunday)
  

How do I keep track of the birds I see?

• eBird checklists: Use eBird just like normal.
• DataCard: Print out PDF's of the Front and Back DataCards (below) on both sides of an 8.5X11 sheet, cut in half and bring to the field with a pencil for tallying. A sheet of card stock works well. Great as a backup if phone or reception fails.

How do I report my birds? (Please download NEW FORMS each year)

• BEST:      Fill out the e-Form below, an XL spreadsheet, and email it to compiler.
• DISCOURAGED:    Print and fill out the Print Form below, get it to Guy (email above).

Forms, maps, results: (HINT- you can download the KMZ file to your phone and use with google earth to see your location on the map in the field in real time)

             Name      E-form Print Form DataCard Circle Maps History  Recap

• Mount Jefferson  XL        PDF      Front  Back  KML   KMZ    ODS     ODT
• Stone Mountain  XL        PDF       Front  Back  KML   KMZ    ODS     ODT
  
• Wilkes(UYV)       XL        PDF      Front  Back   KML   KMZ    ODS     ODT
  

 
Other area count maps and contacts are as follows: (NOTE--policies of these counts are unknown) 

Grandfather Mtn  Map Will Bennett

New River           Map Lisa Benish

Mt. Rogers          Map Allen Boynton