Two Downstream Project partners invite everyone to join in their annual Christmas Bird Counts. The event was started in 1899 by the National Audubon Society and now takes place across the country.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s count is scheduled for Thursday, December 28, in Loudoun County, Va. The count circle has a 15-mile diameter, covering 177 square miles of Loudoun’s countryside: north to Waterford, south to Aldie, east to Ashburn, and west to Purcellville. If you are interested in participating for just a couple of hours or for the entire day, register online or contact Joe Coleman at jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org or 540-554-2542.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society hosts their annual count Friday, January 5 in Berkeley County, W.Va. Beginning birders may join a team of birders and head out in the fields. More experienced birders may be interested in being on a team in the field, possibly partnering with novice birders and showing them what a Christmas Bird Count is all about. To participate contact Bob Dean: 304-671-4995 or bobdean52@gmail.com. Visit the event page for more details about the event.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert birder, this is a fun way to go out and document how the birds are doing.