Submitted by San Juan Islands Audubon.

Calling all bird enthusiasts! Join your local Audubon chapter for this holiday tradition — the annual Christmas Bird Count, to take place on Saturday, Dec. 20.

This is the longest-running community science bird survey in the Western hemisphere, and with this year marking the 125th anniversary, the CBC reaches a historic milestone.

Birders of all skill levels are invited to participate. Volunteers can join organized field teams on assigned routes; or you can count birds at your own backyard feeders. The data collected helps scientists understand long-term trends in bird populations and guides conservation strategies across the continent.

To join a local count, email Ross Lockwood at sjiacbc@gmail.com. You can also visit https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count to learn more about the count.