The National Audubon Society’s 126th Christmas Bird Count has officially begun, and it will run through January 5, 2026. If you’ve never heard of this annual event, don’t worry, it’s not too late to jump in and participate.
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“Each winter, thousands of volunteers across the country pack up their binoculars and bird guides and head out on a mission. They’re joining the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count!” explains the National Park Service (NPS). “One of the longest running citizen science events in the world, The National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count began in 1900. It provides reliable data that help demonstrate the importance of national parks to birds!”
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If you’d like to make this massive citizen-science project part of your holiday tradition, start by finding a circle near you. Click on your circle and touch base with the “circle lead” in your area to determine the best way for you to collect and submit data.
Happy birding!
Header stock image by Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images
