The Lyle, Washington Christmas Bird Count includes a variety of ecosystems including Stacker Butte at 3,221 ft, the Columbia River (at elevation 60 ft) from Horsethief Butte to Rowland Lake, the Klickitat River canyon, riparian area and estuary, and the basalt plateaus of the Columbia River Gorge , including the Rowena Plateau. The circle is centered on the Washington/Oregon state line in the Columbia River near Doug's Beach, about 2.6 miles east of the Klickitat River. About two thirds of the circle is in Washington, and one third is in Oregon. The latitude is 45*40.7' North with longitude 121*14.4' W. Prominent features around the perimeter include Rowland Lake and the Mosier Creek drainage on the west, Horsethief Butte on the east, and Stacker Butte on the northeast.

The annual rainfall within the circle varies from 20" to 10" so there is a variety of forest type, from Douglas Fir and maple on the west, through oak and ponderosa in the center, to grass lands in the east. The circle includes the range limits for several species including Black-billed Magpies, Canyon Wren and Gray Partridge (westerly), Acorn Woodpecker and Lesser Goldfinch (northerly) and Red-breasted Sapsucker(easterly).

The Lyle Christmas Bird Count began with the winter 1996-97 count. An unofficial trial count was held on January 11th ( outside the official Audubon count period) with 5 people participating, 47 species and 998 birds observed. Since then we have averaged 101 species observed per count week, 8,600 birds observed count day, 21 participants, 320 miles per count driving, and over 60 party hours ( usually 8 parties working for 7 1/2 hours). The Lyle Christmas Bird Count circle has had the highest number of Lewis's woodpeckers of any count circle in the hemisphere three of the last six years. However, the number of Lewis's woodpeckers appears to correlate directly with the acorn crop. For example in 2002, after a very poor acorn crop, we observed only one Lewis's woodpecker. In 2003, after a great acorn season, 269 Lewis's woodpeckers were observed. In addition, we are the only count circle in Washington with Acorn woodpeckers, and the only count circle east of the Cascades in Washington or Oregon with more than 100 bird species regulary observed on count day.

The circle is broken down into Washington and Oregon sectors as described below, moving from west to east:

Catherine Creek. This sector includes the Columbia River from Rowland Lake to the Klickitat Estuary, Catherine and Major Creeks, Balch Lake, and up to the rim of Klickitat Canyon (the Lyle Grade Road).

Klickitat River Canyon. Besides the Klickitat River upstream SR 14, it includes High Prairie, Lyle east to the tunnel, and the drainage basin north and west of the Columbia Hills.

Columbia Hills. This sector extends from the Columbia Hills, including Stacker peak, to SR14, and from the Lyle Tunnel to Eight-mile Creek.

Dallesport. The boundaries of this sector are The Columbia River, the eastern end of the Lyle Tunnel, SR 14 and Eight-mile Creek near Horse Thief Butte. Critical habitat include the Tyedman Road wetland adjacent to The Dalles Airport, Spearfish Lake and Horsethief Butte.

The Dalles. Brown Creek Road and Chenoweth Creek are the western boundary of this sector which includes all of The Dalles, and east to Signal Hill (across the River from Horsethief Lake).

Rowena Plateau. The area between eastern side of Mosier Creek basin and Brown Creek including Crates Point, Mayer State Park, Memaloose State Park, and the Rowena Plateau (Tom McCall Preserve).

Mosier Creek drainage to the western edge of the count circle, and includes the lake in the southeast quadrant of the Mosier interchange.