Date: 12/17/25 4:10 pm From: Richard J. Norton via groups.io <richardjnorton...> Subject: [LACoBirds] 2025 Malibu Christmas Bird Count
The 2025 Malibu CBC took place last Sunday, December 14, 2025.
Participants generally reported that numbers of individual birds seen was way down, but the 145 species recorded was around average for the count, and above last year's total of 141.
The count took place 11 months after the Pacific Palisades fire and 12 months after the Malibu "Franklin" fire, and some sub-areas are still impacted. It is believed that the species total was due to simply fewer species being in the area this year, as opposed to anything directly related to the fires.
The only really out-of-expected-range bird recorded was again the Eastern Phoebe, returning for its fourth winter at Lake Lindero.
The first oriole reported on the count since 1987 appears most likely to be a Hooded Oriole, but experts are still discussing the ID.
Single report sightings included Brant, Cackling Goose, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Snowy Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Parasitic Jaeger, Neotropic Cormorant, Green Heron, Barn Owl, Western Screech Owl, Mitered Parakeet, Eastern Phoebe, Mountain Chickadee, Barn Swallow, Brown Creeper, Scaly-breasted Munia, Brown-headed Cowbird, Brewer's Blackbird, and Black-throated Gray Warbler.
Species believed to be present but missed are Rock Wren and Common Poorwill, which on warm days, can respond to playback just after dusk. Northern Harrier and Horned Grebe were both also expected but not found.
The entire effort has been entered into eBird, including reports from the observers who did not actually use eBird themselves. A detailed report is available at eBird(dot)org/tripreport/445104 . This report is actually quite informative about the count. There is a map of the locations of the individual reports, and if "Show all details" in the Species Observed section is selected, the component sightings of the count totals are shown.
One interesting anecdote was that two observers in nearby sub-areas reported flights of exactly 10 White Pelicans, an uncommon species here, a few minutes apart. This then gives the compiler the opportunity to believe that there were really only 10 present in the count circle, and report only 10 to the Audubon CBC web-site.
Thanks to all the volunteers who participated.
Next years' Malibu Count should be on the first Sunday of the Audubon count period, Sunday, December 20, 2026.
