The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the largest and oldest citizen science project in the world. Each year, from 14 December through 5 January, tens of thousands of volunteers head out into the winter to count birds for a day.  This tradition goes back to 1900, and in the intervening years, these birders have built a database on bird populations that is unmatched by any other wildlife census. TINS Co-founder Will Richardson has coordinated the South Lake Tahoe CBC since 2004 - the Tahoe count was started in 1975!

On the appointed date, participants gather in the morning for a brief organizational meeting, and then everyone is sent out to their designated areas of the circle (in our case, a 7.5 mile radius circle centered on the mouth of the Upper Truckee River, click here for a map) to count birds and have fun. 

At the end of the day, the group reconvenes to tally up the totals and swap the day's highlights.  It's a fun and social day, and a great excuse to get out and do some birding in the winter.  People who don't want to go outside get involved too, by keeping track of the birds at their feeders. 

The 2024 South Lake Tahoe CBC has been scheduled for Saturday, December 14, 2024.

Option One: Join the Flock. If you want to chase birds on foot, skis, or even in a boat, we are looking for experienced and beginner avian enthusiasts to find birds in assigned areas. We will appoint individuals or small groups to specific locations throughout the count circle. Please let us know if you would like to be assigned to a specific area, and we will do our best to make it work on a first come, first serve basis.

Option Two: The Backyard CBC. For people that live within the count circle, we encourage folks to participate by counting the birds at your feeder or in your yards or immediate neighborhoods. This way, you can kick back, relax, and learn about the birds that inhabit your yard. Be sure to hang up your feeder a few weeks leading up to the count, so the birds get used to the location of your seeds.

With both options the data will need to be submitted to TINS via email or regular mail. A map of the count circle can be found by clicking HERE.

There will be an optional pizza party to conclude the day at Sue Stevenson’s house.

Thanks to Blue Dog Pizza for your continued support of donated pizza!