Christmas Bird County Circles that need new, replacement compilers:  Piedmont, Pine Ridge, Lake Andes in SD and Pipestone NM in Minnesota.  However, Pipestone still functions without a formal compiler.

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ANNOUNCING THE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS IN OUR REGION

This is a list of Christmas Bird Counts in South Dakota and the closer parts of nearby states.

 It is created by Prairie Hills Audubon Society of Western SD.

 

December 14th- January 5th

Audubon’s 126th Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) 

 

Christmas Bird Counts

https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count

 

All official counts will be held between the dates, Saturday, December 14th, 2025 through, Sunday, January 5th, 2026. 

The Audubon CBC is one of the longest-running wildlife censuses in the world. Each individual count takes place in a 15-mile-wide circle and is led by a compiler responsible for safely organizing volunteers and submitting observations directly to Audubon. Within each circle, participants tally all birds seen or heard that day—not just the species but total numbers to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population.

 

When combined with other surveys like the Breeding Bird Survey, the Audubon CBC provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years. The long-term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. For example, in 2019, Science published a study using decades of Audubon CBC data and other datasets to describe a grim picture: a steady loss of nearly three billion North American birds since 1970. Over the years, Audubon CBC data have been used in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles.

 

Audubon CBC data are also used to measure how birds are already responding to climate change. A 2022 Audubon study used 90 years of Christmas Bird Count data to show how birds have shifted amid a century of major environmental changes. By tracking how bird ranges have moved over time, conservation efforts can be prioritized in areas that are important for birds today and in a climate-altered future. With two-thirds of North American bird species at increasing risk of extinction by the end of this century, Audubon CBC data is more important than ever for effective conservation. 

 

  Birders of all ages and abilities are welcome to contribute to this fun, nationwide community science project, which provides ornithologists with a crucial snapshot of our native bird populations during the winter months. Each individual count is performed in a count circle with a diameter of 15 miles.  Volunteers, including a compiler to coordinate the process, count in each circle. The volunteers break up into small parties and follow assigned routes, which change little from year to year, counting every bird they see. In most count circles, some people also watch feeders instead of following routes. 

  Interested birders must arrange with the count compiler in advance to participate.  If there is adverse weather on the count day, please check with compiler to make sure the count is not postponed.

 

What to bring?

Participants should bring lunch, drinking water, warm clothing and footwear. Binoculars, field guides and spotting scopes are suggested, for those who have them.  The five-dollar fee has been dropped to encourage more participation and the annual published report, (American Birds) previously available in paper has been made digital – see link:

https://www.audubon.org/content/american-birds-annual-summary-christmas-bird-count 

 

Links to CBC web pages:

https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count 

To find a count near you on an interactive map:

  https://gis.audubon.org/christmasbirdcount/ 

 

Other links: 

SOUTH DAKOTA

https://phas-wsd.org/christmas-bird-counts-regional/

http://sdoubirds.org/SDOU/Calendar.aspx 

NEBRASKA:

http://www.noubirds.org/Activities/CBC.aspx

MINNESOTA:

http://moumn.org/CBC/cal/calendar.php 

IOWA

https://iowabirds.org/Connections/CBC.aspx

  

WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA’s CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

 

*RAPID CITY, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

Sunday, 12/14/25

Contact: Peg Mcintire, mcintire14@me.com, (605) 858-8242,

Maggie Engler, birdwomanSD@gmail.com, (605) 391-2511 ,

 

*STURGIS, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

Sunday,12/14/25, 

 Contact: Eric Davis: speargoose@gmail.com

 

*PIERRE/FT. PIERRE, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, 

Sunday, 12/14/2025, Adverse weather alternate is 12/15/25

Contact: Ricky Olson, tatanka40@pie.midco.net

 

*WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

Sunday, 12/14/25 2025,

Meet at 7:30 am Visitor Center’s front doors

 Noah Robison , noah_robison@nps.gov, (605) 745-1149, (720) 404-1708

This CBC is not affiliated with National Audubon Society

  

*SHADEHILL, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

Tuesday, 12/30/2025

Date changed – this is the bad weather alternate

Contact:  JJ  Nelson at Forest Service  (Grand River District – Bismark office)  701-989-7300 ,

 Josiah.nelson@usda.gov , 701-227-7848, also Vivian.Raasch@usda.gov

*BISON, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Friday, 12/19/2025, Adverse weather alternate is 12/20/25

Contact: Janice Bovankovich, jbovankovich@abcbirds.org

  

*BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

Thursday, 1/1/ 2026

Meet at Ben Reifel visitors center (near Interior and Cliff Shelf) at 7:45 am

Please contact Nancy in advance if you are going.

Contact: Nancy Drilling, dril0008@gmail.com,  605-791-0459.

 

*HARDING COUNTY, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Friday, 01/02/2026,

Contact: Janice Bovankovich, jbovankovich@abcbirds.org,

 

*SPEARFISH, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

Sunday, 1/4/2026,  

Meet at McDonalds at 7:30 a.m. MT

Contact: Daniel Bjerke, 605-381-0493, dlbjerke@midco.net 

—-

————–

*PINE RIDGE, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

Compiler has moved out-of-state & this CBC needs a new compiler

Contact: former compiler Peter Hill, petermhill@yahoo.com, 605-441-9346. 

 

*PIEDMONT, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

There is no compiler – thus 126th count is not happening

Contact: former compiler Gene Hess: gene@neopaleo.net,

 

*HOT SPRINGS, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,

The Count will not happen this year, but Webers still run it, and it will occur again in the future

Contact: Duane or Marie Weber – (605) 673-2032, mmcurtin@gwtc.net

This CBC has not affiliated with National Audubon Society, but that will change in the future.

 

 

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EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA’s CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

 

*Mitchell Christmas Bird Count, 

Sunday, 12/14/25

Contact: Jeff Hansen, jeff.hansen.sd@gmail.com, 785-806-6917

 

*Aberdeen Christmas Bird Count, 

12/14/2025

Contact: Gary T Olson – olsonfam@nvc.net, 605-715-5242,

 

*Yankton Christmas Bird Count,

Sunday, 12/14/2025

Contact: Roger Dietrich: 1947rogerd@gmail.com, (605) 660-6247

*Madison Christmas Bird Count,
Monday, 12/15/25
Contact: Jeffrey S. Palmer,  jeff.palmer@dsu.edu, (605) 256-5190

*Sand Lake N.W.R. Christmas Bird Count,
Tuesday, 12/16/2025
Contact: Lindsey Wickre, lindsey_wickre@fws.gov,
605-228-8421,

 *Waubay N.W.R. Christmas Bird Count,
12/17/2025
Contact: Nicole Heller – Office (605) 989-2324, Jarrod_Lee@fws.gov, 605-566-0832 ext 16,

*Brookings Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday, 12/20/2025
Contact: Dan Kemp, dankemp@brookings.net

*Watertown Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday 12/20/2025
Owen Mcelroy, owen.mcelroy@state.sd.us

*Sioux Falls Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday,  12/20/25
Contact: Chris Anderson, canderson1@sio.midco.net, 605-254-2550

*Huron Christmas Bird Count, 

Monday, 12/22/25

Contact: Ryan Thompson, ryemel4@santel.net

Office: (402) 281-3140

 

*Canton Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday, 1/3/2026
 Contact: Chris Anderson, canderson1@sio.midco.net,  605-254-2550

 

———-

*Lake Andes Christmas Bird Count,
It stopped happening in a previous year & it is not expected to happen this season.
We need a new compiler to adopt this CBC.
Contact: Mick Hanan, mick_hanan@fws.gov, (605) 481-2347

 

OTHER  ADJACENT STATES

 

SOME NEBRASKA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

 

*Scottsbluff, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
Sunday, 12/14/25
Contact: Kathy DeLara, renosmom@charter.net,

*Ponca State Park, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/14/2025
Contact: katie leware, katie.leware@nebraska.gov,

 

*Fort Niobrara, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
Tuesday, 12/16/2025

Contact: Katie Schober, katie_schober@fws.gov, Cell: (308) 645-7440, 

Office: (402) 281-3140 

 

*North Platte, NE, Christmas Bird Count,

Wednesday, 12/17/2025

Wenesday, 12/17/2025Contact: Thomas Walker, thomas.walker@nebraska.gov, 308-530-7659

 

*Norfolk, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday, 12/20/25
Contact: Duane Wolff, duane.wolff@audubonmember.org, (402)-841-0130,
David Heidt, heidtdw@gmail.com, 402-371-3412 leave message

 

*Lake McConaughy, NE, Christmas Bird Count,

Saturday, 12/27/2025

Contact: Stephen Dinsmore, cootjr@iastate.edu, 515-294-1348

*Crawford Christmas Bird Count,
Friday, 1/2/2026
Contact: Kathy DeLara, renosmom@charter.net

*Harrison Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday, 1/3/2026
Contact: Kathy DeLara, renosmom@charter.net

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SOME WYOMING CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

*Buffalo, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
Sunday, 12/14/2025
Contact: Deane Bjerke, bjerkedp@gmail.com,

*Gillette, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
Sunday, 12/14/25
Contact: William Vetter,  wm_vetter@msn.com, (307) 670-1145
or Dustin Downey, 307.756.3941, 504.453.4139,  Dusty.Downey@audubon.

*Goshen Hole, WY, Christmas Bird Count
Saturday,12/20/2025
Contact: Zachariah Hutchinson, zhutchinson@audubon.org

 

*Casper, WY, Christmas Bird Count, 

Saturday, 12/20/2025

Contact: Bruce Walgren, piranga@bresnan.net, 307-234-7455,
or Stacey Scott at hustace@gmail.com or (307) 262-0055

 
*Sheridan, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday, 12/20/2025
Contact: Annie Dunn, anniegitterdunn@gmail.com, (253) 307-9082

*Story-Bighorn, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday, 12/27/2025
Contact: Ariel Downing: at 307-751- 2303, bandgeek832@gmail.com,

 

*Kane, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday, 12/20/25
Contact: Christy Fleming: christy_fleming@nps.gov, 307-548-5402

*Bates Hole, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
 Thursday, 1/1/25
Contact: Hustace “Stacey” Scott, hustace@gmail.com, call Stacey at 307-262-0055 or Charlie at 307-473-2512

 —

*Guernsey/Ft. Laramie, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday, 1/3/26
Contact:  Jane Dorn, 307-640-4002, linglebird@yahoo.com, Jane has been incapacitated & asked Grant Frost to organize the 126th Guernsey CBC – see Grant at  307-343-2024. frostgrant2@gmail.com, He is the compiler for Cheyenne.

*Sundance, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
TBD
Contact: Jen at 307-290-0457, ravenssong18@gmail.com,

SOME IOWA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

*Westfield, IA, Christmas Bird Count,
Tuesday, 12/16/2025
Contact:  Tucker Lutter,  tuckerlutter@yahoo.com,

*Sioux City, IA, Christmas Bird Count,
Saturday 12/20/2025
Contact: Jerry Probst, probstsuebee@aol.com, 712-490-8256

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SOME MINNESOTA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

*Hendricks, MN, Christmas Bird Count,
Tuesday, 12/16/25
Contact: William A. Schultze, bcbrats@itctel.com,

*Ortonville, MN, Christmas Bird Count
Saturday, 12/20/25
Contact: Brandon Semel: brandon_semel@fws.gov
605-479-3015

*Pipestone National Monument, MN, Christmas Bird Count,
12/30/25
 Contact: Mike Majeski, 651 247 9459, mmajeski@eorinc.com, garrettwee@hotmail.com,
 Gabriel Yellowhawk at Park – Gabriel_Yellowhawk@nps.gov, 507-215-9118, Beth Collins <bc309167@gmail.com>, 

A new compiler is needed

=========

SOME NORTH DAKOTA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

*Long Lake N.W.R. ND, Christmas Bird Count,,
Wednesday, 12/17/2025
Contact: Patrick Chastan, patrick_chastan@fws.gov, 701-321-0865 or Jared Newton,  Jared_Newton@fws.gov

*Tewaukon N.W.R., ND, Christmas Bird Count,
Wednesday, 12/17/25
Contact:  701-403-0041,  Eric Wilson, Eric_Wilson@fws.gov

*Bismarck-Mandan, ND, Christmas Bird Count,
Sunday,  12/21/2025
Contact: Corey Ellingson, crackerjackbirder@bis.midco, 701-400-5891

*Medora, ND, Theodore Roosevelt N.P. South Unit, Christmas Bird Count,
 at South Visitor Center
Date will likely not be determined before 12/23/25
Kevin Melzo, kevin_melzo@nps.gov, 701-623-4730 ext 1403, or Neil at 701-623-4466

 *North Unit, Theodore Roosevelt N.P., ND, Christmas Bird Count
Date will likely not determined before 12/23/25
Contact:  Kevin Melzo, kevin_melzo@nps.gov, 701-623-4730 ext 1403, or Neil at 701-623-4466

=============

SOME MONTANA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
*Miles City, MT, Christmas Bird Count,
Friday, 12/19/2025
Contact: Jennifer Muscha, jenmuscha@midrivers.com, 406-951-2799
==========================