Audubon Christmas Bird Count - Vermont Circles
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count isn’t just about counting birds, it’s about checking the pulse of the ecosystem we share and delivering practical conservation results based on what we find. The Audubon Christmas Bird Count mobilizes more than 70,000 volunteer bird counters in more than 2,400 locations across the Western Hemisphere, from above the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego. Learn more about the history of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count and view past years' results.
Audubon Christmas Bird Counts are conducted between December 14 to January 5, inclusive dates, every year. Your local count will occur on one day between those dates and typically consists of tallying the number of individuals of each bird species observed in an assigned sector of the 15-mile diameter count circle. At the end of the day, participants report their counts to the count circle compiler, typically in some form of celebration, pot luck, or virtual/in-person get-together. Participate in as many counts as you wish!
Learn the history of the Christmas Bird Count here. Read about the experience of participating in the Christmas Bird Count here.
Find an Audubon Christmas Bird Count near you.
View Audubon's interactive Christmas Bird Count map to find circles in Vermont and throughout the world: audubon.org/content/join-christmas-bird-count
Listing of Audubon Christmas Bird Count Circles in Vermont:
VERMONT COUNTS (view map):
Barnet
Dec. 16, 2024
Contact: Jeff MacQueen – jmacqueen.65@gmail.com
Note from compiler: Pre-assigned party routes in VT and NH, Owlers and feeder watchers are encouraged.
Bennington
Dec. 16, 2024
Contact: Kevin Hemeon – kevinhemeon6@icloud.com
Note from compiler: Please contact me if you would like to join us. Everyone starts out on their own and emails their results to me at the end of the day. Owling after midnight the morning of and until midnight the night of is welcome. Keep track of mileage and time spent.
Brattleboro
Dec. 14, 2024
Contact: Cory Ross – coryross24@gmail.com
Sponsor Organization: Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society
Note from compiler: New participants are welcome! Please email Cory to sign up.
More Information: – https://www.sevtas.org/christmas-bird-count
Burlington
Dec. 15, 2024
Contact: Sarah Schmidt- burlingtonwbc@gmail.com
Compiler: Larry Clarfeld
Sponsor Organization: Green Mountain Audubon Society
Note from compiler: We welcome new members with birding experience who are prepared to commit to a whole day on December 17th working with one of our teams. Those interested in joining our count should not delay. The job of talking to prospective participants, and coordinating with team leaders to find a spot on one of our count teams takes time
Champlain Islands/St. Albans
Dec. 15, 2024
Contact: Terry Marron – tgmarron@comcast.net
Compiler: Ken Copenhaver
Note from coordinator: We welcome new participants, including Feeder Watchers who live within the circle.
East Franklin County
Jan. 4, 2024
Contact: Annette Goyne – east.franklin.vt.cbc@gmail.com
Ferrisburgh
Dec. 14, 2024
Contact: Mike Winslow – mikekira@myfairpoint.net
Sponsor Organization: Forest and Field Club; Otter Creek Audubon Society
Note from compiler: Feeder counters actively wanted. Potluck following the count at Vergennes Congregational Church.
Hanover-Norwich
Jan. 1, 2024
Contact: Nancy Martin and Walter Ellison – borealdee@gmail.com
Note from coordinator: Counters gather in front of the Hopkins Center in Hanover, NH at 7 AM for route assingments.
Hinesburg-Huntington
Dec. 30, 2024
Contact: Paul Wieczoreck – mgcpw@gmavt.net
Hunger Mountain
Dec. 27, 2024
Contact: Zach Cota-Weaver - zcotaweaver@gmail.com
Sponsor Organization: North Branch Nature Center
Island Pond
Dec. 28, 2024
Contact: Bob Stymeist - bobstymeist@gmail.com
Co-compiler/Sponsor Organization: Northwoods Stewardship Center
Contact: Kelsey Evans - kelsey@northwoodscenter.org
Lamoille County
Contact Compiler for Date
Contact: Noel Dodge – noel.dodge@gmail.com
Note from compiler: Each year we meet up on the evening of the count at the Charlemontl Restaurant in Morrisville to deliver counts and share stories, attendance is not required but turnout has been good in past years.
Mad River Valley/Northfield Winter Bird Count
Dec. 15, 2024
Contact: Mad Birders (Jeannie Elias) – info@madbirders.org
Compiler: Nancy Turner
Sponsor Organization: Mad Birders
Note from compiler: We are especially interested in finding folks from the Berlin, Northfield, Roxbury area to join teams canvassing in those communities.Start time for teams is 8 am, we bird until 4 pm and have a (virtual) social hour at the end of the day.
Middlebury
Dec. 15, 2024
Contact: Jim and Kris Andrews – jandrews@vtherpatlas.org
Sponsor Organization: Otter Creek Audubon Society
Mt. Abraham
Jan. 1, 2024
Contact: Randy Durand – durand@gmavt.net
Plainfield/Montpelier
Dec. 16, 2024
Contact: Sean Beckett – sean@northbranchnaturecenter.org
Signup: https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/christmas-bird-count/
Sponsor Organization: North Branch Nature Center
Note from compiler: Plainfield, VT count centers on Goddard College in Plainfield. Routes are assigned in advance by email. At the end of daylight, we meet to tally results and share a potluck at the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.
Plattsburgh, NY (reaches the VT Champlain islands)
Dec. 17, 2024
Contact: Michael Burgess – michael.b.burgess@plattsburgh.edu
Randolph Area
Dec. 16, 2024
Contact: Brian Lowe – vtbirdguy@yahoo.com
Note from compiler: Will take on new participants
Rutland
Dec. 28, 2024
Contact: Kathleen Guinness – birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org
Compiler: Susan Elliott-ovenbird14@yahoo.com
Sponsor Organization: Rutland County Audubon Society
Note from compiler: Field participants and feeder counters welcome! If you can, join us for a potluck and countdown of the day's results at the Proctor Free Library at 6 p.m.
Saxton’s River (COUNT CIRCLE FULL)
Dec. 16, 2024
Contact: Don Clark – sapsbks@gmail.com
Springfield
Dec. 15, 2024
Contact: Marianne Walsh – mwalshvt1980@gmail.com
Sponsor Organization: Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society
Note from compiler: We will not be meeting before the count, but we will have a tally gathering after the count.
We can always use more birders who want to join us. Feeder counters are especially welcome.
Tri-County (Essex and nearby towns)
Dec. 21, 2024
Contact: Jason Crooks - mwongera@hotmail.com
Winhall/Windham
Dec. 21, 2024
Contact: Ruth Stewart – stewdor7@comcast.net
Note from compiler: Contact Ruth Stewart at 802 362-1185 or stewdor7@comcast.com for route assignment and count protocol. We will not meet as a group either before or after the count day.
Woodstock
Dec. 17, 2024
Contact: Sally Laughlin – sblaughlininvt@gmail.com
Note from compiler: Birders are most welcome to join us, this is our 50th count!
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