The annual Christmas Bird Count is a great opportunity to share social birding activities and see some birds you might not find on your own (Pacific Loon photo by Paul Konrad).

Across North America and beyond, birders will be joining together for a special day – Audubon’s 124th Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which will be held in your area one day between December 14 and January 5. The CBC provides anyone interested in birds with the opportunity to participate in this historic annual community science event. Led by a compiler at each CBC location, groups of volunteers identify and count all the birds observed within a portion of an overall 15-mile diameter circle, and all counts need enthusiastic participants.

CBC compilers typically assign volunteers to teams based on their bird identification skill level and the amount of time they can participate on the count day. Many CBC counts hold a social dinner at the end of the day where compilation results are tabulated and stories are shared. It’s not too early, or too late, to find a CBC event that interests you – just contact the compiler to join a CBC team! To learn more, and to get in touch with a local compiler, see Join the Christmas Bird Count | Audubon