The Middle Peninsula Bird Club invites birdwatchers to participate in the longest-running community science survey, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. On Sunday, Dec. 29, birders and nature enthusiasts in the Middle Peninsula area will take part in this tradition.

The Mathews Audubon Christmas Bird Count is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020.

The Middle Peninsula Audubon Christmas Bird Count is a newly organized count for 2019 that will encompass a 15-mile diameter circle including Gloucester, Middlesex and King and Queen counties. The area included in the circle is mostly rural with many water features: Beaverdam Reservoir, the Piankatank River, the Rappahannock River, the Poropotank River and Urbanna Creek. The count circle includes two public parks: Beaverdam and Ark parks. There are three public boat landings in the circle. Many homeowners with waterfront, forest, and field properties have consented to have volunteers count birds on their land.

This year, the Audubon Chris...