Problem: Help bird conservation in North America by participating for one day in the annual Christmas Bird Count.   Prior to the turn of the century, people engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt": They would choose sides and go afield with their guns; whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.   Conservation was in its beginning stages around the turn of the 20th century, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declini...

Action: The Christmas Bird Count season is December 14 through January 5 each year. Your local count will occur on one day between those inclusive dates. If you have more than one local count, they will probably be conducted on different dates within the CBC season. You can pick the most convenient date, or participate in more than one count.   There is a specific methodology to the CBC, but everyone can pa...