Is there a better way to ring in the New Year than counting birds with friends? The Waukegan Christmas Bird Count has been participating in some capacity since 1919, and annually on New Year's Day since 1958! Our section of far Northeastern Illinois covers great locations such as Waukegan Beach, Illinois Beach State Park, Independence Grove, and long stretches of the Des Plaines River.
WHEN: The Waukegan Christmas Bird Count (CBC) takes place on Saturday, January 1, 2022.
WHAT: We will count all the birds, by species, that are in our "count circle" on the count day.
WHERE: The Waukegan Count Circle is the 15 mile diameter area centered on Green Bay Rd. and Belvidere St. in Waukegan in Lake County, IL.
WHO: You! All are welcome to join our endeavor: veteran and novice alike. If you have a pair of binoculars and are excited to see and count birds, you’re in the right place. You don't have to be an expert. We will match up people who have never done a CBC before with participants who have.
HOW DO I SIGNUP? Send an email to CBC Compiler Adam Sell, with your name, telephone number and email address. Please RSVP by Saturday, December 11th.
COST: Participation in the count is free.
POST-COUNT DINNER: The count down dinner will be taking place virtually this year. Details TBA.
——-
Every year on a wintery day in late December or early January, birders across the country sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world. Now in its 122nd year, the Christmas Bird Count is a time honored tradition which is well represented by more than a dozen such counts in the Chicagoland area. To learn more, visit: www.ChristmasBirdCount.org