January 20, 2024 - Yosemite National Park officials announce the results are in on the 2023 Christmas Bird Count! The park’s 2023 Christmas Bird Count proved a successful and joyous time as always for our many participants spread out across multiple regions inside and just outside the park. To no one’s surprise, the American robin (Turdus migratorius) was the most spotted bird this year, followed by the ruby-crowned kinglet (Corthylio calendula) and acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus).

Unprecedented sightings for our local Christmas Bird Count data this year included a wood duck (Aix sponsa) in the Merced River Canyon near El Portal and a spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius) in Yosemite Valley near El Capitan Meadow.

Though seen at least once most years, a golden eagle (Aquila chyrsaetos) refused to be outdone and made a perfect entrance through the parting clouds.

Beginning in 1932 in the park, the Yosemite Christmas Bird Count event is approaching its hundredth continuous year. We’d like to thank our volunteers for keeping this tradition going one year more.

Participants tallied 1,772 individual birds comprising 66 different species!

To learn more about the event and see past data, visit: www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/bird-count.htm.

Source & photos: Yosemite National Park