Kalispell Christmas Bird Count

The 27th annual Kalispell CBC will take place on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The Kalispell count area is centered at the junction of Highway 93 and West Reserve Drive by Home Depot. From Happy Valley to the north and Herron Park to the south, Fairview Marsh to the east and McMannamy Draw to the west, the Kalispell CBC covers a wide variety of habitats. It includes the Flathead River corridor between Pressentine and Foys Bend, the Whitefish River downstream from Hodgson Road, and the Stillwater River downstream of Ray Kuhns Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Favorite birding spots like Lone Pine State Park, Foys Lake, Owen Sowerwine, McWenneger Slough, Kuhns WMA, the “Flathead Gull Sanctuary” (Flathead County Landfill), and much of West Valley lie within its boundaries, as well.

Everyone is welcome to join the Kalispell CBC effort, whether out in the field or counting backyard feeder birds. With many birds being concentrated at feeders this time of year, feeder data is valuable and easy to collect. If you reside in the count area and enjoy collecting feeder data, we’re happy to get more feeder watchers signed up. For those able to lead, we are seeking at least one experienced birder to cover a section this year. If you observe an unusual or rare bird during count week, January 1 through January 7, please let us know.

Shannon Donaldson will organize and compile this year’s count. If you covered a section last year, she will be in touch to arrange for getting your packet to you. On count day, feel free to meet for breakfast at 7am at Kalispell Kitchen, 660 E. Idaho St. in Kalispell (formerly Finnegan’s/4B’s). Following the count, counters will convene at Nickel Charlie’s.

Over the past 26 years, the Kalispell count has produced a total of 134 species, with Horned Grebe and Short-billed Gull being the newest additions last year. The count averages 72 species, with a maximum of 83 species in 2012. Last year, counters recorded 76 species and tallied a record 25,645 birds, many thousands more than the 9,503 birds counted in the foggy conditions of the previous year.

You can reach Shannon at 406-261-3466 or by email at shannon@flatheadaudubon.org