The 124th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, one of the longest-running wildlife censuses in the world, is underway.

In our area, birding enthusiasts went out Tuesday in Gloucester County as part of the Middle Peninsula count. That count encompasses a 15-mile area covering parts of Gloucester, Middlesex and King and Queen counties. Susan Crockett of Gloucester is serving as that count’s compiler.

This Sunday, the Mathews count will kick off in the early morning hours, as birders will look and listen for owls. Then at dawn, 11 teams with an estimated 36 people will be scouring the Mathews countryside counting birds until dark. The Mathews count has been taking place since 1969.

“All members of the count have been instructed to be courteous to landowners,” said Mathews CBC compiler Mark Sopko. “But don’t be surprised if you see a car or two parked along the roadside with folks that have binoculars scanning for birds.” The Mathews count covers all of Mathews County as well as ...