Christmas Bird Count at Kings Gap and Surrounding Areas: Highlights From the Field

Each winter, birders across North America step into the cold to take part in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count—a tradition now more than a century old. This year, our Kings Gap and surrounding areas circle delivered a rewarding day of birding, community, and conservation‑minded fun.

Below is a recap of the species tallied across the region, based on checklists submitted during the count ebird.org.

A Snapshot of the Day

Our teams covered a wide range of habitats—woodlands, ridges, wetlands, agricultural edges, and residential pockets throughout the Kings Gap region. From soaring raptors to secretive winter wrens, the day offered a rich mix of sightings.

Across 15 checklists, observers recorded 44 species plus a few additional taxa ebird.org. Notable highlights included:

Raptors on the Move

• Bald Eagle — observed at two locations

• Red‑shouldered Hawk — a single but welcome sighting

• Sharp‑shinned Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk — each recorded once

• American Kestrel — always a treat in winter

Woodpecker Activity

Kings Gap’s forests delivered a strong woodpecker showing:

• Pileated Woodpecker

• Yellow‑bellied Sapsucker

• Red‑bellied, Downy, and Hairy Woodpeckers

Winter Songbirds

• Golden‑crowned and Ruby‑crowned Kinglets

• Brown Creeper

• Winter Wren

• Dark‑eyed Junco (77 individuals counted)

• White‑throated Sparrow (6 checklists)

Open‑Country & Edge Species

• Horned Lark

• Eastern Bluebird

• American Robin

• Northern Mockingbird

Urban Vistors

• European Starling (357 individuals)

• House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch

These species helped round out the count.

Why These Counts Matter

Every checklist submitted contributes to a long‑term dataset used by researchers, land managers, and conservation organizations. Winter bird populations are shifting with climate, habitat changes, and human development. Your participation helps track those trends and guide conservation decisions.

Thank You to Everyone Who Participated

Whether you hiked a sector, watched your backyard feeders, or helped tally species at the end of the day, your effort made this year’s count a success. Kings Gap continues to be a vibrant winter birding hotspot thanks to the dedication of our local community.

If you’d like to explore the full trip report—including species lists and checklist locations—you can view it here:👉 https://ebird.org/tripreport/458919  ebird.org

Andrew Dapkins

Guide and Owner