By Shannon Donaldson
The 27th annual Kalispell Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place on Sunday, January 4, 2026. More than 75 participants surveyed the area, with 59 in the field, and more than a dozenbackyard feeder watchers. Observers tallied 17,404 birds, down from the record 25,645 birds tallied last year.
Conditions were similar to last year and fairly mild, with highs in the upper thirties and low forties. Participants encountered a better snowpack than that found in the past couple of years, with reports of two to three inches in most areas, four to six inches in a few sections, and ten inches in Batavia. The morning began with freezing rain, and a light drizzle continued for most of the morning. Observers noted mixed precipitation and patchy fog throughout the day. The sun finally broke out at day’s end.
It was a very birdy day! While the total number of birds was down slightly from the record tallied last year, the species count was eleven species above average, with 83 total species, tying Kalispell’s record high. This is just the second time in count history that the species count has exceeded 80, with 83 species also recorded in 2012. One new species was observed that had not been previously recorded, the Western Bluebird (3), bringing the all-time total species count to 135 for the Kalispell CBC.The followingeightcount-week birds were reported: American Goshawk, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Great Gray Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Evening Grosbeak, Purple Finch, White-winged Crossbill, and Snow Bunting. Just before count week, a Snowy Owl was seen on December 25 in the count area, off Church Drive.
New high counts were reported for twelve species. Species that more than doubled their all-time high counts were Trumpeter Swan (63), American Robin (2,662), and Bald Eagle (265). The total tally of 2,662 American Robins is quite significant, at more than ten times the previous all-time high count of 211. Birders also came across the count’s third Long-eared Owl (1) and second Canvasback (1). It was the fourth year for Rusty Blackbird (1), Lesser Scaup (1), and California Gull (1), fifth year for Cackling Goose (1) and the seventh year for White-throated Sparrow (1). Redhead (1), which was a new count species in December 2023, has now been seen three years in a row. Other species with new high counts were Tundra Swan (20), Ring-billed Gull (577), Red-tailed Hawk (94), American Kestrel (7), Northern Flicker (497), Blue Jay (157), Black-capped Chickadee (876), Townsend’s Solitaire (33), Dark-eyed Junco (1089), and Brewer’s Blackbird (103).
Thanks again to everyone who participated and made this a very successful count!