Christmas Bird Count

For 122 years, the Audubon Society has been encouraging people to go outside on a day near Christmas and notice the birds that they see and hear. Called The Christmas Bird Count, it’s a great way for families to spend time outdoors doing some citizen science.

Sign up on the National Audubon Society webpage, and get instructions for how to conduct your count and report your findings. Or, if you’re not up for counting, you can also help by filling your bird feeders! Full birds are active birds, which makes them easier to hear and spot.

A book to introduce kids (and adults!) to this event is Bird Count by Susan Edwards Richmond. It gives readers an idea of what the Christmas Bird Count is from a child’s point of view. Plus, the illustrations by Stephanie Fizer Coleman are lovely! Bonus material: the back of the book has a short description of common birds found on the count!