The variety of birds observed in each count site during the Christmas Bird Count is especially interesting and insightful (Common Goldeneye photo by Paul Konrad).

With hundreds of Christmas Bird Counts planned for the period from December 14th to January 5th, thousands of birders will participate from coast to coast in this classic annual Audubon event. Of course, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the premier early-winter bird census, when thousands of volunteers identify and count birds in their “count circle” during a 24-hour period on one calendar day selected within the CBC period. Anyone is welcome to join the fun of this exciting birding event, which is held across the United States and Canada (where Audubon partners with Birds Canada), and many countries in the Western Hemisphere.

The Christmas Bird Count is Free, but you need to contact the “circle compiler” ahead of time to get all the information to participate. Birders of all skill sets are involved in the CBC, and if you are a beginning birder, your compiler will pair you with an expert who will help you participate, and in the process, you will undoubtedly become a better birder. If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, you can report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you make that arrangement with the “count compiler.” To find out where the nearest count circle is and to get email contact information for the circle compiler, zoom in on the map and click on the yellow circle nearest your location at National Audubon Society

To learn more about the CBC and how you can participate in the 125th Christmas Bird Count, American birders can reference Join the Christmas Bird Count | Audubon and Canadian participants will want to access the Birds Canada website for more information at Christmas Bird Count - Birds Canada | Oiseaux Canada

You can also reference a summary of the information collected during previous CBCs in the United States at Annual Summaries of the Christmas Bird Count, 1901-Present | Audubon and Canada at Christmas Bird Count - Birds Canada | Oiseaux Canada