Shared by Thomas Meinzen & Summarized by Don Rose
The results of the 2025 Sauvie and Ridgefield Christmas Bird Count conducted on January 4, 2026 are in. Thanks to Thomas Meinzen for compiling the information and sharing it with participants. A final tally of species and numbers can be found at 2025 CBC Results.
Thank you for taking part in this winter’s Sauvie and Ridgefield Christmas Bird Count! Thanks to your efforts, we broke all-time count records with 133 species and 97 participants this year on count day. This is the highest number of species in the 48 years this count has been run.
Better circle-wide coverage from over 30 field teams and a strong winter for several raptors led to record-high counts for Northern Harrier (107), Cooper’s Hawk (17), Bald Eagle (262), Great Horned Owl (29), and American Kestrel (155). By contrast, with avian influenza causing sharp declines, Peregrine Falcon (1) was nearly absent.
Other record high counts included Trumpeter Swan (1,355), Great Egret (256), American Bittern (4), Belted Kingfisher (51), Woodpeckers (Hairy—24, Pileated—18, Flicker—267), Common Raven (97), Barn Swallow (11), Bewick’s Wren (152), Brown Creeper (142), and Spotted Towhee (316).
Unusual species recorded on the count included a Brant, Mountain Quail (2), Sora, Long-eared Owl, Acorn Woodpecker, Chipping Sparrow, a Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrow hybrid, and Common Yellowthroat.