Current Nature: Join The 2025 Nantucket Christmas Bird Count

The 71^st Nantucket Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is right around the corner, and we are excited to welcome community members of all ages and experience levels to join us for the special day. As the compiler for the Nantucket CBC, I love getting to see how people come together, support one another, and contribute to science as a community.

I first joined the Nantucket CBC over ten years ago, and I still remember how lucky I felt to be welcomed into such a fun and meaningful tradition. The compilers before me, many of whom inspired my own path in birding and conservation, set the tone for what the event is today: joyful, encouraging, and rooted deeply in community. They also helped spark that birding excitement, where you cannot help but want to find every bird on the island. It’s an honor to carry that tradition forward and share that same energy with veteran volunteers and new volunteers each year.

The Christmas Bird Count is part of a 126-year-old conservation effort led by the National Audubon Society. Each participating location across the country runs its own count circle, and together these events create one of the longest-running (and inspiring) datasets in the world. Here on Nantucket, our count circle (the island) is divided up into eight sections, each with a team and a captain of each section. Volunteers spend the day counting every bird they see or hear, from sea ducks and hawks to tiny sparrows and owls, and we are known for having many rare, unexpected winter birds as well. It’s a great way to get back out in the fresh air and stretch your legs after the holiday season.

Last year was an incredible count. Our volunteers recorded 138 species and an impressive 40,763 individual birds, which was ten more species than the previous year. Participants collectively put in 106 hours in the field and 54 hours at the feeders, covering roughly 330 miles across the island. Some of the rare birds included a Baltimore Oriole, a Bald Eagle, and a Clapper Rail. It was a wonderful example of how much a caring, engaging community can accomplish together, and I am always hopeful new faces will join in on the fun this year. You never know what surprises the day might bring.

One of the things we love most about the event is how truly welcoming it is. Skill level, age or birding experience does not matter here! Everyone can participate, from kids with their first pair of binoculars to retirees who have been exploring the island for decades. There is a job for everyone to help with. You can spend the whole day in the field, help cover a smaller area for a couple of hours, or count birds right from your kitchen window as a feeder-watcher. Every observation matters, and being part of a team creates an amazing sense of community.

This year on December 28^th, the teams will head out at sunrise and count until sunset. The event takes place in any weather because the birds are out there no matter the conditions. If you are curious about how the day works or what a typical count looks like, we are hosting a Zoom Q&A session December 18^th 5pm. It’s a great chance to learn what happens, meet other volunteers, and have all your questions answered.

At the end of the count day, everyone is invited to our compilation meeting at 6pm, at the UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station. The Nantucket Field Station has been hosting the compilation for more than 60 years, and it is a tradition that brings generations of Nantucket birders together. It’s one of my favorite moments of the whole event. We gather together, tally the numbers, share sightings, and celebrate completing the CBC.

Since Nantucket is lucky to have so much conservation land, many of our local conservation organizations volunteer and support the count, and they generously allow us to use their properties as survey routes. We are incredibly grateful to work alongside the Nantucket Land Bank, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Mass Audubon Nantucket Wildlife Sanctuaries, the Maria Mitchell Association, the Trustees of Reservations Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, the Sconset Land Trust, and the Madaket Land Trust. With their involvement and help from our community, the Nantucket CBC remains the special island tradition that so many enjoy being a part of.

Things to remember: Count Day is December 28^th and the last day to register is December 19^th. If you have ever wanted to try the Nantucket Christmas Bird Count, this is the perfect year to join in. It’s a wonderful way to explore Nantucket in the quieter season, learn more about the birds that call our island home, and be a part of a warm and welcoming community.

We hope you will join us and help make this year’s count the best one yet!

For more information, please visit: llnf.org/nantucket-christmas-bird-count