SCVBA sponsors a bird count each year on the first Saturday of June, which covers a portion of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties (same area as the Palo Alto Christmas Bird Count). 2024’s count will take place on June 1. As well as counting birds, groups of observers also record any signs of breeding, such as mating, nest building, or feeding of fledged young. These counts are important in documenting trends of breeding activity. Birders of all levels are encouraged to participate, and a "countdown" dinner is held the same evening.
New! Now you can view graphical results for every bird recorded in the Palo Alto Summer Bird Count throughout its 40+ year history. This excellent online database was created by Vayun Tiwari and Arjun Dixit based on data compiled by Bill Bousman. View SBC Species Statistics →
Palo Alto Summer Bird Count (SBC) - Saturday, June 1, 2024
Count birds in areas from from Skyline Drive to the bay in a circle that is centered near Stanford University. In addition to the popular birding locales in the circle, it also covers many urban areas of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. If you are interested in joining, please contact the Summer Bird Count Coordinator, Pete Dunten via email.
There will be a countdown dinner on count day at the Odd Fellows Lodge, 823 Villa St in Mountain View (with entrance on Castro St), beginning at 5 pm. Details about the dinner: DOCX PDF. You can RSVP here: https://bit.ly/SBC_dinner
Count Regions
Regions 1/2: East of Hwy 101 and mostly cover Bayside habitats
Regions 3/4: mostly located on the urban flatlands
Regions 5/6: the foothills
Regions 7/8: Santa Cruz Mountains
Forms to complete, clip together (don't staple packet), and submit:
Bill Bousman has prepared a history of the Palo Alto Summer Bird Count, which you can read in our Science Library, or download the PDF directly.
2023 SBC Results
Last year's (2023) Summer Bird Count results are available to those interested:2022 SBC Results
The 2022 Summer Bird Count results are available here:2021 SBC Results
2021 Summer Bird Count results are available here:Banner photo of the hills above Los Altos along Page Mill Road by Barry Langdon-Lassagne