Pileated Woodpecker, Photo by Kiara Way
Birding for a better understanding.
Community science is a way for everyday observations by birders, botanizers, and amateur naturalists of all kinds to help researchers map out where plants and wildlife are. We invite you to engage with these projects so your observations have a bigger impact to support birds.
Cackling Geese, Photo by Ken Pitts
Join the world’s longest-running community science project. Christmas Bird Count is a census where volunteers gather to tally populations of wintering birds, contributing to a massive dataset that has guided conservation efforts for more than a century.
How it Works:
The census takes place across the world, but is broken up into survey areas called circles. Each circle has its own specific count day between December 14, 2026 – January 5, 2027. Level of effort ranges from a full day of surveying fields with a team to staying at home and checking feeders in your own yard.
How to participate:
Each circle is organized by a volunteer compiler. Participants need to register with the compiler of each circle they wish to participate with. Local circles are listed below with their count dates and registration information updated as they are announced.
Nearby Christmas Bird Count Circles
Sauvie-Ridgefield
Count Day: Jan 04, 2027
Registration: Click here and complete the form.
Cowlitz-Columbia
Count Day: Dec 27, 2026
Registration: Email Becky at beckykt “AT” comcast.net
Wahkiakum
Count Day: Dec 29, 2026
Registration: Email Andrew at emlenandrew “AT” gmail.com
Lewis County
Count Day: Dec 27, 2026
Registration: Email Rachel at lightningdash09 “AT” yahoo.com
Columbia Hills
Details TBA
Portland
Count Day: Jan 02, 2027
Registration: Click here for details from the Bird Alliance of Oregon.
Lyle
Count Day: Dec 19, 2026
Registration: email John at bishopjg “AT” icloud.com
Trout Lake
Count Day: Dec 20, 2026
Registration: Email Jim at lighjwhite.mars “AT” gmail.com
Gresham
Details TBA
(Click or tap to expand for more information on each CBC circle; please note that email addresses are shown with the @ symbol replaced by “AT” to reduce bot spam)
White-breasted Nuthatch, Photo by Ken Pitts
Help us track and understand how our local birds are responding to a shifting climate. Climate Watch is a community science project where volunteers monitor specific target species such as White-breasted Nuthatches, Spotted Towhees, and Western Bluebirds.
How it works:
Climate Watch takes place across two windows in late Winter (Jan 15 – Feb 15) and early Summer (May 15 – June 15). The protocol requires conducting 12 stationary five-minute point counts in a single morning. Participants observe and log all birds seen or heard within 100 meters during that five-minute counting period before moving on to the next site. All count sites must be at least 200 meters apart.
How to participate:
Our team can provide guidance on how to claim your square, choose count sites, and submit your data. The local Climate Watch coordinator for Southwest Washington is Kiara Way: email kikinglet “AT” gmail.com
Stay tuned for upcoming Climate Watch training sessions!
Northern Flicker feather, Photo by Kiara Way
Let’s celebrate Fall Migration with science! One week every fall we ask beginners and experts alike to contribute observations of birds and evidence of their presence (such as feathers, nests, eggs, and more). The only experience you need is the ability to recognize a bird and capture a clear enough photo or recording for identification.
How it works:
The BirdBlitz project is hosted on iNaturalist by Vancouver Audubon. Participants seek out birds and signs of their presence across Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania counties then either photograph or capture an audio recording to submit to iNaturalist. If you cannot get outdoors, you can still help by logging in to review and suggest identifications on media submitted by others.
NOTE: Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is illegal to possess the feathers, body parts, and nests of most species of birds with very limited exceptions. Please leave everything in place.
BirdBlitz 2026 is wrapped! See the complete results here then check back in the summer for news about BirdBlitz 2027.
How to participate:
- Join the Project: Log in or create an account on iNaturalist using either the free app or your desktop browser. Then go to the Vancouver Audubon BioBlitz project page and hit “Join”.
- Find Birds: Head outdoors and check your backyards in Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania counties to look for birds or signs of their presence, including feathers, nests, footprints, and pellets on the week of the project.
- Upload Observations: Submit your observations on iNaturalist. Eligible observations by project members will be automatically included!
- Contribute Identifications: Can’t get outdoors or want to do more? Log in to review and suggest identifications on observations submitted by other project members. Only suggest identifications for observations that you are able to identify based solely on the attached media.
Red-tailed Hawk, Photo by Ken Pitts
The Winter Raptor Survey is a massive regional community science project surveying more than 36,000 miles of road by more than 500 volunteers. This project aims to determine population numbers for the various species of birds of prey that winter in or migrate through the Pacific Northwest.
How it works:
Volunteers are assigned to established survey routes. Participants drive their designated routes once a month from December through February (with optional surveys in November and March). As they drive, volunteers tally every raptor seen on each road segment. At the end of the survey, the data is submitted to track long-term population trends.
How to participate:
The level of effort requires a commitment to drive a designated route once a month during the winter. Many routes are filled by returning volunteers, but new volunteers are welcome. There are opportunities to serve as a primary volunteer on a vacant route or as an observer on an established route. To volunteer, find a route, or request more information, visit the project page at East Cascades Bird Alliance.
Nearby survey routes in need of a volunteer: Longview West
If interested, contact Jeff Fleishcer at raptorrunner97321@yahoo.com
Additional Projects
Project Feederwatch
A winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders, backyards, and community spaces to help scientists track changes in winter bird distribution. This project requires a low, flexible level of effort, allowing you to watch your feeders as often or as little as you like during the season.
Nov 01 – Apr 30
Great Backyard Bird Count
A four-day event held every February that engages bird watchers of all ages to create a real-time global snapshot of bird populations. It requires a very low level of effort, asking for just a minimum of 15 minutes of bird watching in your backyard or a location of your choice during the event weekend.
Feb 12-15, 2027
Project Nestwatch
A nationwide monitoring program tracking the reproductive biology of birds. Volunteers must locate an active nest and briefly check it every 3 to 4 days to record eggs, hatchlings, and fledglings while strictly following safety protocols to avoid disturbing the birds.
Anytime birds are nesting