The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced that it is time for Audubon’s 126th Christmas Bird Count, which officially began on Dec. 14 and runs through Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. 

For more than 120 years, volunteers across the Western Hemisphere have spent one winter day counting 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿—helping track population trends and guide conservation efforts. This annual event, known as the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), originated on Christmas Day in 1900.

Whether a seasoned birder or brand new, the CBC is open to everyone. Each count is organized inside an established 15-mile diameter circle by a local compiler who will guide participants through the process. Live inside a circle? Participants can even report birds from their feeders.

It is free to participate in the CBC, all skill levels are welcome, and it is a fun way to contribute to a real community science. 

Counts happen within the Dec. 14 to Jan. 5, 2026, window. Each circle picks 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 for its count. Want to learn more or find a count circle nearby? Full details are available here: https://buff.ly/66ybUNg