“CBC” stands for “Christmas Bird Count,” an event sponsored by the Audubon Society that was begun on Christmas Day 1900 by ornithologist Frank Chapman and 26 fellow conservationists. I have been participating for only a few years, but it has become one of my favorite things to do.

I am fully indebted to my friend, fellow certified naturalist and expert birder Roselie Overby, who lets me ride along with her and learn. By myself, I would be virtually useless. Indeed, my only marketable contribution when it comes to birding is that I occasionally get a really nice photo of a bird that I can share with the birding community!

But nice photos of birds were not in the cards this past November. We had a great time as usual and counted 39 species.* We searched diligently for the 40th, but nightfall defeated us. Even then, we listened for owls for a few minutes before heading in.

I did post a few photos of birds from the day on iNaturalist: Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). But photos good enough for identification on iNaturalist often aren’t good enough for sharing on a photo blog!

So… I end this #YearInReview (at long last) with the late afternoon sun shining through the leaves of a Willow Oak (Quercus phellos). Beauty is out there–always! Here’s to many moments of glory in 2025.

*The entire group of D’Arbonne CBC counters probably numbers a dozen and altogether we counted 89 species that day.