The 125th Christmas Bird Count in Kentucky

Forty-two Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) were conducted this year in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including a new CBC in Clark County, Legacy Grove. A total of 139 species was recorded, which is six less than last year. There were no first-record type rarities this year as there were for the previous two CBC seasons. Three additional species were seen during Count Week: Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, and Franklin’s Gull, all in Louisville. The total number of individuals counted were 339,198 birds, significantly down from last year by over 83,000 birds. The top species count for this CBC season was Lexington with an impressive 96 species, its highest ever; next was Allen County East with 92 species; Louisville was third with 91 species; followed by Elkton and Ballard County, each with 90 species. Five count circles reported between 81 and 87 species; ten observed between 70 and 75 species; and the remaining 22 counted between 36 and 68 species.

Weather was slightly cooler in Kentucky compared with last year. Lows ranged from 15°F to 55°F, with an average of 34.2°F. There were 24 CBCs with low temperatures at or below freezing, five more than last year. The high temperatures ranged from 32°F to 61°F, with an average of 48.5°F. Like last year, all-day or most-day cloudy weather predominated the count period (35 counts compared to 28 last year). Light rain was reported on six counts, only one of which was all-day light rain. Heavy rain fell all day on two counts, and on one more CBC, in the afternoon only. Light snow was noted on five counts, only one of which was all-day light snow. There was no heavy snow, nor was there any accumulation on the ground. Rivers and creeks were flowing without ice, except two CBCs reporting some freezing at the edges. Lakes and ponds were mostly open, with 11 count circles indicating some ice; none indicated completely frozen still water. The distribution of count days across the count period widened, occurring across 20 of the 23-day span, compared to 18 last year. Once again, the traditional holidays occurred mid-week this year. Interestingly, 22 counts occurred on six of the eight weekend days, whereas last year, only eight CBCs were held on weekend days. The biggest count day was Saturday, December 14, with eight CBCs conducted.

There were numerous highlights this CBC season. Most are on eBird checklists, documented by photographs, and all have identification notes on the rarities. Birders tallied 28 species of waterfowl this year, which is one more than last year. Important observations include Ross’s Goose (11 on four counts); Cackling Goose (5 at Elkton); Blue-winged Teal (one at Ballard County); Black Scoter (count week at Louisville); and Long-tailed Duck (count week at Louisville). Additional water bird species of note include Red-necked Grebe (one at Lexington); Virginia Rail (four on two counts); Dunlin (three at Allen County East); Least Sandpiper (eight at Allen County East and count week at LBL); Franklin’s Gull (count week at Louisville); Lesser Black-backed Gull (seven on five counts); Forster’s Tern (67 on two counts); Red-throated Loon (one at Barren River Lake); and Black-crowned Night-Heron (four on two counts). Notable raptor reports include Golden Eagle (two on two counts and count week on a third); Rough-legged Hawk (one at Elkton); Barn Owl (16 on six counts); Short-eared Owl (21 on eight counts); Merlin (13 on six counts, continuing the upward trend of this species in winter in Kentucky); and Peregrine Falcon (five on four counts).

Further highlights include White-eyed Vireo (one at Louisville); Common Raven (three on three counts); Northern House Wren (three on three counts); Gray Catbird (one at Lexington); LeConte’s Sparrow (two on two counts); Lincoln’s Sparrow (one at Burlington); Western Meadowlark (one at Ballard County); Baltimore Oriole (one at Paintsville); Brewer’s Blackbird(six at Otter Creek); Orange-crowned Warbler (three on two counts and count week on a third); Common Yellowthroat (one at Elkton); and Dickcissel (one at Elkton).
The ten most numerous species were European Starling (83,535); Common Grackle (37,181); Red-winged Blackbird (33,966); American Robin (18,319); American Crow (12,510); Ring-billed Gull (10,838); Snow Goose (9,237); Mourning Dove (8,464); Mallard (8,301); and Canada Goose (8,830). There were 16 common species that were reported on all 42 counts (down three from last year), and 16 species were observed on only one CBC each (down eight from last year). Ten CBCs tallied over 11,000 birds: Elkton (39,550); Lexington (29,013); Ballard County (25,576); Sorgho (18,593); Paradise (18,173); Allen County East (17,880); Land Between the Lakes (16,207); Louisville (15,094); Daviess County (13,128); and Danville (11,075).

A surprising number of species had high numbers this year. These big numbers are surely a reflection of additional observers and effort by Kentucky birders (see below), among other factors. All the following numbers are the highest statewide total for the past 18 years1: Wood Duck (122); Bonaparte’s Gull (4,807); Forster’s Tern (67); Red-shouldered Hawk (454); American Barn Owl (16); Barred Owl (75); Red-headed Woodpecker (307); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1,676); Downy Woodpecker (1,143); Hairy Woodpecker (258); Northern Flicker (1,232); American Crow (12,510); White-breasted Nuthatch (1,293); Brown Creeper (209); Carolina Wren (2,202); Winter Wren (173); American Pipit (1,794); Dark-eyed Junco (5,910); White-throated Sparrow (6,534); and Song Sparrow (4,212).

CBC participation has continued to grow over the past ten years. Our 528 participants in 2024-25 exceeded last year by 32 observers. This CBC season, participants spent 646.5 hours walking 479.75 miles. They spent 787.25 hours driving 6,643.75 miles in their sections of the count circle. Bicyclists rode 23.75 hours, covering 110.5 miles. They rode horses and buggies for 29.5 hours over 69 miles. Finally, they spent 5 hours in a motorboat for 7 miles. The following effort measurements are above the ten-year rolling average. These averages appear in parentheses after the current numbers in the following: The 528 participants (443) in 285 parties (215.7), including some multi-CBC observers, logged a total of 1,492.25 (1,255) party-hours and 7,310 (6,960.2) party-miles. With 32 more participants this year (and one more CBC), we increased party hours by about 100 and party miles by about 400 miles from last year. Birders spent 37.25 (26.8) hours owling while traveling 97.25 (85.4) miles. Thirty-three feeder watchers (25.8) logged 39.5 hours (42.2) observing birds. Putting these data in context, this year’s 42 CBCs compare to the ten-year average of 37.4. Our species total of 142 compares with the ten-year average of 140.9 species. Kentucky birders always put in a strong effort!

Thank you to the 528 observers who participated in this year’s counts. My special gratitude goes to the 35 hard-working compilers who organized and executed their counts, submitted count results online, and endured my many requests and questions. I want to commend especially compilers who volunteer to run multiple CBCs: Roseanna Denton (three), Blaine Ferrell (two), Ed Groneman (two), Steve Kistler (two), and Brainard Palmer-Ball (three). To those who completed Rare Bird Reports or otherwise documented the unusual birds, thank you very much for your contributions to the CBCs and to community science.

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¹Detailed statewide numbers have been aggregated only back to the 2007-08 CBC season; this work is continuing. Prior to the 2017-18 CBC season, not all Kentucky CBCs were submitted to Audubon’s CBC Portal, thus the data not included in that database had to be compiled manually by the author.