It's National Bird Day! Several weeks ago, Zion held its annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. This one-day event is the longest running biological survey in the nation! On the day of the Christmas Bird Count, volunteers head out into Zion and its surrounding areas, counting every single individual bird and species they see. The 2022 Christmas Bird Count was a part of the 123rd annual Count held by the National Audubon Society. The very first Count in 1900 only had twenty-seven participants. This year in Zion, we had fifty-two volunteers take part, counting 3964 total birds and 82 species! The Christmas Bird Count helps scientists understand bird populations over time and space. It is an amazing conservation tool spanning over a century of data! Christmas Bird Counts occur each year nationwide. If you are looking to get involved in the 2023 Count, check out your local Audubon group or the national Audubon website!