We are honored to share that the Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance—formerly known as the Lahontan Audubon Society—has been awarded the 2025 100% Giving Board Award from the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada.
This recognition is more than a badge.

It reflects the heart of our organization: a board that is deeply committed to protecting birds, expanding access to nature, and strengthening our region’s conservation community.

What the Award Means
The 100% Giving Board Award is given to nonprofit organizations whose board members demonstrate complete, unified participation in giving. This includes contributions of:

• Time — volunteering at events, leading field trips, mentoring new birders, and supporting community programs
• Expertise — offering scientific knowledge, strategic planning, and stewardship experience
• Financial Support — investing personally in the mission to ensure sustainability and growth

Having every board member participate underscores a shared belief:

Our work matters. Our birds matter. Our community matters.

Why This Matters for Conservation
​A fully engaged board sends a powerful message to donors, partners, and volunteers. It tells the region:
“We believe in this mission enough to lead by example.”
For conservation organizations like ours, funding translates into real impact:

• Preserving habitat
• Hosting public bird walks and educational programs
• Supporting youth birding initiatives
• Providing resources for community science
• Protecting species that rely on Nevada’s unique desert and wetlands

Every hour given and every dollar donated extends the reach of these efforts.

A Community Effort
While this award recognizes our board, the achievement is shared across the entire Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance family—members, volunteers, sponsors, and the countless bird enthusiasts who show up with binoculars, curiosity, and care.
Every event attended, every checklist submitted, every new birder welcomed strengthens the roots of our organization.

Looking Ahead
This award energizes us as we continue:

• Expanding free and low-cost birding programs
• Introducing more families and students to Nevada’s birdlife
• Supporting conservation efforts statewide
• Advocating for habitat protection
• Celebrating the beauty and biodiversity of Northwest Nevada

Our board’s 100% commitment mirrors the dedication we see in our members and our community.
Thank you for helping us protect and appreciate the birds that make our region so extraordinary.

Join Us Outside
Whether you’ve been birding for decades or just learned the name of your first sparrow, you’re always welcome at our walks, programs, and events.

Together, we’ll continue nurturing a community that values wildlife, stewardship, and the joy of discovery. 

The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is fast approaching! Our chapter does not run the counts ourselves, they are run independently by site Compilers. However, each year the Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance (Lahontan Audubon Society) promotes the upcoming counts happening in Northern Nevada and Tahoe region. For more count circles not listed here, please refer to the National Audubon Society CBC page: https://gis.audubon.org/christmasbirdcount/ and click on the count circle of interest to find more information. Please also check with your local Audubon Chapter (for example, Plumas Audubon Society, Red Rock Audubon, Bristlecone Audubon Society, East Cascades Bird Alliance) for even more CBC information in our general region.


If you want to participate in a count, please contact the Compiler the week before the count or earlier. This helps our volunteer compilers get everything organized for count day! New participants will be teamed up to work with experienced CBC counters. Late signups may not be able to be added to a count team.  If a count is full, please consider participating in a count that is still open and in need of birders!

We respectfully ask that volunteers be mindful of their health and that of others. Please consider staying home if you are feeling under the weather on count day.


The Counts: Dec 14 - Jan 5, 2025
Su Dec 14
Carson City (count full ) - compiler Rob Lowry
South Tahoe - Compiler: Will Richardson. Please register on the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science website

Mo Dec 15
Winnemucca - contact Shannon Finnerty [email protected] (775) 623-1500

Tu Dec 16
Fallon - contact Dave McNinch [email protected] (775) 747-7545
Summer Lake (OR) - contact Martin St. Louis [email protected]  

We Dec 17
Hart Mountain (OR), Bunkhouse is FULL - Compiler Joel Geier
Woodfords (CA) - contact Dan Williams [email protected] (714) 943-1266 
Eagle Lake (CA) - contact Steve Stump [email protected] and 530-260-1839 

Fr Dec 19
Sheldon (hot water and heat are working this year!), Bunkhouse is FULL - Compiler Joel Geier
Honey Lake (CA) - Contact Matt Forster [email protected] and 619-347-2269

Sa Dec 20 
Truckee Meadows (Reno) - contact Dave McNinch [email protected] (775) 747-7545
Sierra Valley (CA) - contact Colin Dillingham [email protected] RSVP required
530-927-7381

Su Dec 28

Minden - Contact Ben Sonnenberg [email protected] 


Th Jan 1

Pyramid Lake (count full ) - compiler Dennis Serdehely