The 126th Audubon Homer Christmas Bird Count was conducted on Saturday,
December 20, 2025 after a month-long cold spell, which resulted in
extensive sea ice buildup along the northern shoreline of Kachemak Bay and
the eastern side of the Homer Spit. The weather on Count Day was below
freezing temperatures, clear skies, and little wind. Viewing conditions
were good to excellent.
On morning of count day, 31 volunteers gathered at the Alaska Maritime
National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters (formerly the Islands and Ocean
Visitor Center) at 8:30 AM to divide into teams. After an organizational
meeting, each team then departed to identify and count all birds within
their assigned count areas within the Homer Count Circle, a 15-mile
diameter circle centered at the base of the Homer Spit. The teams met back
at Headquarters at 4:30 PM to add up the results of the all-day count. An
additional 12 other volunteers, referred to as feeder-watchers, stayed at
home to monitor their bird feeders and recorded the maximum number of each
species that visited their bird feeders throughout the day. Two volunteers
from Eagle River and two from Palmer came down specifically to help with
our bird count.
*Total number of species for Count Day was 69, above the average for the
last twenty years (65). Key highlights for the count included:*
*· first record of a Wilson’s snipe, *
*· third occurrence of a fork-tailed storm-petrel, *
*· five species of woodpeckers, and*
*· **four species of owls*
*Four additional species were recorded during Count Week,* the 3-days
before and after Count Day. *Total individual birds totaled 4,144*,* half
of the number seen last year*. Numbers of individual birds on count day can
vary among years depending on the weather and presence or absence of key
species, such as waterfowl or shorebirds.
Heavy sea ice conditions in the inner bay were a large factor in the
relatively low number of birds for the count. Mallard and greater scaup,
typically some of the most abundant birds on the count, were largely
absent, due to sea ice covering much of their prime foraging habitat. *We
found no greater scaup and only one mallard (Count Week) on this year’s
count. *Overall, bird numbers in upland areas around Homer were also low in
comparison to previous years. Twelve species on Count Day were represented
by only one individual bird.
The most abundant species was the American crow (875), quite common
throughout town, followed by the rock sandpiper (562), which typically
roosts in the Homer Harbor during high water. The relatively low number of
rock sandpipers in comparison to previous years is likely the tidal stage
during the count and sea ice cover of their typical roosting areas. Black
scoters (407) were the most abundant waterfowl.
White-winged crossbill (20) numbers are still low after a major influx two
years ago. No red crossbills were found this year. Pine siskins (109) were
dispersed in small flocks throughout the count area, but numbers were low.
A big thanks go out to all the volunteers, both in the field and at
feeders, who contributed to the success of this year’s count. Special
thanks also goes out to Carol Harding who coordinated the Feeder Watchers,
the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and staff, and
especially Lora Haller, for providing the meeting place and cosponsoring
the event. Other sponsors include the National Audubon Society and the
Kachemak Bay Birders.
Dave Erikson
*As an important footnote, we Kachemak Bay Birders would like to say a big
THANK YOU to Dave Erikson for coordinating and compiling the CBC for 49
consecutive years here in Homer! *
