Albany County Christmas Bird Count Posts Record House Finch Total

Albany County marked a milestone in local citizen science when volunteers completed the 50th annual Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 20, 2025. Observers logged 6,732 individual birds within the count circle centered near the Interstate 80 and 3rd Street intersection, a total well above the 50-year average of 3,155 birds.

The most abundant species was the house finch, with a record 2,443 individuals recorded, the highest house finch total in five decades of the local count. Other high tallies included 822 American crows, 747 rock pigeons and 711 Eurasian collared-doves. Townsend’s solitaires reached a record 26 birds, a surge attributed to a strong juniper berry crop on Pilot Hill that likely drew the birds into count areas.

Participants logged 63 party-hours of effort, up from the 50-year average of 45 party-hours, reflecting increased volunteer engagement across the community. The effort also extended into count week, during which observers reported a hooded merganser, the 101st species documented in the local count’s history. Raptors were well represented; nine raptor species were recorded and observers counted six bald eagles at sites including Undine Park and along Spring Creek.

Compiler Brad Andres and volunteers from the local Audubon chapter noted that mild, relatively snow-free conditions likely influenced higher sighting rates, while high winds on count day, with gusts reported at 47 mph at Laramie Regional Airport, made detection of some species more difficult. The mix of favorable weather and strong local food resources illustrates how short-term conditions can amplify or suppress species visibility during a single annual snapshot.

For Albany County residents and local officials, the five-decade dataset assembled by this count offers more than an annual snapshot. Long-term records like these provide baseline information useful to land managers, conservation planners and civic leaders weighing decisions about habitat protection, urban vegetation management and stewardship of riparian corridors. The growing volunteer participation also signals robust civic engagement in environmental monitoring that can strengthen public support for data-driven decision making.

Organizers thanked the dozens of volunteers who contributed to the count and emphasized that maintaining this continuous record is essential for tracking long-term changes in bird populations and seasonal distributions across Albany County. The next annual count will offer another opportunity to assess trends and support local conservation priorities.