Geoff LeBaron

Geoff LeBaron

Director, Christmas Bird Count

Geoff LeBaron is Christmas Bird Count Director for the National Audubon Society, a position held since 1987. As an integral member of the Audubon Science Division, Geoff also works on the other Community Science projects including Climate WatchHummingbirds at Home, and the Great Backyard Bird Count, as well as ornithological and birding advisor on projects from the Conservation Science team. Other tasks at Audubon have included consultant for natural history accuracy for both the Audubon website and Audubonmagazine; advisor for products under development by the Marketing team; leader for both leadership and staff birdathon fund-raisers; consultant for special events; occasional lecturer; and frequent Audubon media spokesperson on various subjects.

Before Audubon, Geoff served five years on staff in the Ornithology Department at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia (including Collection Manager at VIREO); ornithological field work on Common Loons for the Audubon Society of New Hampshire; ornithological field work for the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and environmental education work for the State of Rhode Island. He has logged over 2000 hours aerial observation time of marine mammals, turtles, and birds encompassing the entire east coast of the United States. Geoff also spent three seasons leading whale and seabird watching trips on Stellwagen Bank off Cape Cod.

Geoff has led natural history tours to: Alaska; Big Bend and the Texas Hill Country; Baja California; Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; Panama and Costa Rica; the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador; Argentina, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica; South Africa; and Australia and New Zealand.

Geoff earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Miami in Florida, and a Master's Degree in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island. During his time at URI, he published his thesis "Kleptoparasitism as a foraging strategy in the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus).

Articles by Geoff LeBaron

An Age of Transition at the Christmas Bird Count

December 07, 2023 — CBC Director Geoff LeBaron looks back on 124 years of both constancy and change, and announces a change of his own.

The 123rd Christmas Bird Count Summary

December 05, 2023 — December 14, 2022 to January 5, 2023

The 122nd Christmas Bird Count Summary

December 09, 2022 — December 14, 2021 to January 5, 2022

Christmas Bird Counts in Latin America and the Caribbean Add Valuable Bird Data

December 22, 2021 — Today, counts are set up in 28 different countries outside the United States and Canada, helping with bird conservation.

121st Christmas Bird Count Summary

December 03, 2021 — December 14, 2020-January 5, 2021

120th Christmas Bird Count Summary

December 07, 2020 — Geoff LeBaron breaks down everything we learned from the 120th Christmas Bird Count

When to Expect Hummingbirds in Your Yard This Spring

May 21, 2020 — Flowers are beginning to bloom, and hummingbirds are starting to return from their southern winter sojourns. Here’s a regional guide for when they should arrive and the food they’re seeking.

The 119th Christmas Bird Count Summary

December 09, 2019 — Audubon's Geoff LeBaron breaks down what happened on the most recent Christmas Bird Count.

The 118th Christmas Bird Count Summary

November 29, 2018 — Audubon's Geoff LeBaron breaks down what happened on the most recent Christmas Bird Count.