Short-eared Owl ODWC Photo by Anne Marie Mee
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Birders flocked together this winter to count birds in 24 designated “count circles” across Oklahoma during the 126th Audubon Christmas Bird Count. So far, nine compilers have shared the results of their one-day counts, conducted between Dec. 14, 2025, and Jan. 5, 2026. Each count covered a 15-mile radius area, and 200,379 individual birds have been reported to date. Of the reported counts, a combined 200 birders joined in – with some participating in multiple counts – dedicating 531.31 person hours to the bird census.
- The Tulsa Count Circle reported the highest number of individual birds, 54,919 individuals, of which 27,974 were red-winged blackbirds. This count circle had 59 participants, the highest of the reporting counts.
- The Oklahoma City Count Circle reported 118 species, the richest species diversity reported so far. Of special interest was a white-winged scoter, a large sea duck, spotted during the count week.
- Exciting High Counts: The Kenton Count Circle documented 2,704 mountain bluebirds; the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge reported 6,508 ruddy ducks; and the Sooner Lake Count Circle counted 2,184 individual cackling geese.
- Special Finds: Each count reported amazing species; 85 bald eagles were spotted in the Fort Gibson Reservoir Count Circle; 20 bushtits and three golden eagles were counted in the Kenton Count Circle; eight whooping cranes were documented in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge; five long-tailed ducks were spied at Sooner Lake; 3 Wilson’s snipe were documented in the Spavinaw Count Circle; a black-and-white warbler was reported in the Stillwater Count Circle; two Inca dove were documented in the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge Count Circle; an American bittern was reported in the Tulsa Count Circle; and a Say’s phoebe was spotted in the Hackberry Flat Count Circle.
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