What birds will you find during this year’s CBC activities? (Bonaparte’s Gull photo by Paul Konrad).

Audubon’s 123rd Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be held from December 14 to January 5 this season, just a few days away, and participation in the CBC is open to everyone! Primarily conducted in the United States and Canada, the CBC now has participants active in more than 20 countries in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a great community science project conducted by thousands of volunteers as an early-winter bird census, in which birding teams identify and count all birds observed during one calendar day within a count circle, so plan to join the fun this year.

Each CBC count takes place in an established 15-mile diameter CBC circle, and is organized by a “count compiler.” Each compiler selects the day to participate, and interested birders must make arrangements to participate in advance with the compiler. Birders of all skill levels are involved in the CBC activities, and if you are a beginning birder, your compiler will pair you with an expert, which will surely help you to become a better birder too.

For more information about participating in the 123rd Annual Christmas Bird Count, refer to Christmas Bird Count | Audubon

A variety of specially prepared answers to all questions you may have about the CBC can be accessed at Answers to your top questions about the Christmas Bird Count | Audubon and if you are wondering about where the CBC circles are in your area and throughout the hemisphere, Click here for a map view of the circles expected to be included in the 123rd CBC.