Tufted titmouse perched on pine boughs, Massachusetts

The great holiday bird-off. Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Each December, thousands swap wrapping paper for binoculars and step outside for a different kind of holiday tradition: the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Instead of hunting for bargains, they hunt for birds—with pencils, rather than pellets. Started in 1900 by ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, the count offered a peaceful alternative to the Christmas 'side hunts,' where people competed to shoot the most animals. Chapman had a better idea: count them instead. Over a century later, that simple shift has grown into the world's longest-running citizen-science project.

Between December 14 and January 5, volunteers across the Americas head into designated 15-mile circles to tally every bird they see or hear. From bustling cities to remote forests, participants—known affectionately as 'birders'—log species like chickadees, hawks, and tufted titmice (seen in today's image). The data helps scientists track long-term trends in bird populations, migration patterns, and climate impacts. So this holiday season, if you hear people chirping about Christmas counts, don't assume they're talking calories.