CACT is National Audubon Society's designation for
the Cheep Thrills Christmas Bird Count. It stands for "California Cheep
Thrills."
2026 Cheep Thrills count - Thursday, December 17
Our count will happen on Thursday 12/17 this year. Sign up with your usual area leader or email Susan for an assignment.
Compilation dinner - December 17th
We'll have an informal compilation event at a community clubhouse in Novato. The address is 524 Entrada Drive in Novato. It features the usual pizza and salad dinner ($10 per person, if you're eating pizza) and you’re welcome to bring your own drinks and any food you’d like to contribute. You can show up anytime between 4:30 and 7 pm.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2025 Cheep Thrills results: During the 2025 Cheep Thrills Christmas Bird Count we observed 163 species and counted a total of 82,511 birds. Details by area: 2025 results.
The chart below shows you how our 2025 total number of birds observed and total species counted compares to all previous years (since we restarted the count). Note that in 2016 the numbers were lower because the weather was miserable; it rained heavily all day long and several flash flood alerts were issued.
2025 163 species 82,511 birds
2024 163 species 53,926 birds
2023 164 species 62,193 birds
2022 161 species 47,189 birds
2021 156 species 42,919 birds
2020 155 species 78,981 birds
2019 162 species 47,971 birds
2018 159 species 52,994 birds
2017 160 species 43,922 birds
2016 133 species 21,426 birds * terrible weather*
2015 159 species 51,932 birds
2014 159 species 60,931 birds
2013 162 species 37,747 birds
2012 161 species 39,972 birds
2011 164 species 41,496 birds
For more detail see this Excel spreadsheet, carefully compiled by David Sexton: Cheep Thrills Christmas Bird Count 2011-2025
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Area Leaders
- Field checklist - Excel (coming soon)
- Field checklist - PDF
- Effort data - PDF
- Effort data - Excel
- CACT count circle in Google maps - Open the map and double-click to enlarge an area
- Individual area maps
