Once again, it’s time for the world’s longest-running community science project – the Audubon Christmas Bird Count! From December 14 through January 5, North Carolina’s birders and nature enthusiasts will take part in the 119-year tradition of community science, collecting data that helps us understand how our bird populations are doing. Click here for the press release.

Join the fun!

Here is everything you need to know about the 2018 CBC and how to get involved:

What: 119th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count

When: December 14, 2018 - January 5, 2019

Where: See our list of counts organized by Audubon chapters and Audubon Ambassadors below, and a link to additional counts statewide and beyond here.

Extras: Download the FREE, NEW & IMPROVED Audubon Bird Guide App.

Get Social: Post photos to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with #AudubonCBC & @audubonnc

Get Involved:

Birders of all ages are welcome to participate in this fun, nationwide community science project, which provides the National Audubon Society and other bird conservation organizations with a crucial snapshot of our native bird populations during the winter months.  Each individual count is performed in a count circle with a diameter of 15 miles. At least ten volunteers, including a compiler to coordinate the process, count in each circle. The volunteers break up into small parties and follow assigned routes counting every bird they see.

Make plans to join a count near you: Contact the person listed below to sign up, and they’ll assign you to a team led by an experienced birder.

Friday, December 14

• Highlands (Highlands Plateau Audubon) – Contact: Brock Hutchins at hpasnews@gmail.com

Saturday, December 15

• Raleigh (Wake Audubon) – Contact: Brian O’Shea at brian.oshea@naturalsciences.org
• Yancey County/Burnsville – Contact: Russ Oates at rmoates54@gmail.com
• Greensboro (T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon) – Contact:  Elizabeth Link at elizlink04@gmail.com 

Monday, December 17

• Brevard (Transylvania County Bird Club) – Contact: Michael Plauche at captainbluegill@gmail.com

Friday, December 21

• Grandfather Mountain (High Country Audubon territory) – Contact: Jesse Pope at jesse@grandfather.com

Saturday, December 22

• Charlotte (Mecklenburg Audubon)  – Contact: Ken Kneidel at kenkneidel@gmail.com

Saturday, December 29

• Buncombe County (Elisha Mitchell Audubon) – Contact: Tom Tribble at tntribble@gmail.com
• Wilmington (Cape Fear Audubon) – Contact: Sam Cooper at dmcooper2@juno.com

Sunday, December 30

• Jordan Lake (New Hope Audubon) – Contact: Norm Budnitz at nbudnitz@gmail.com

Saturday, January 5

• Winston-Salem (Forsyth Audubon) – Contact: Nathan Gatto at ndgatto72@gmail.com

Participants can find all local count circles statewide here and can sign up here: http://www.audubon.org/join-christmas-bird-count