Hamilton Christmas Bird Count is Saturday

This year's Hamilton area Christmas Bird Count will start at 7:30 a.m. at the Teller Wildlife Refuge Slack Barn, Saturday, December 17.

The Bitterroot Audubon Society is organizing the 30th annual search for wintering birds.

Crews will be sent out on roads within a 7 and half-mile radius of the Hamilton airport. At noon, all the birders will come back to the Teller on Chaffin Lane north of Corvallis for lunch of chili with a side of Oreo cookies.

No need to have any experience in counting birds. If you're a "tenderfoot," you'll be paired with an experienced bird watcher. And if you can only count birds for part of the day, come along.

By the way, if you have a backyard bird feeder, you can be part of the count, too. Check the Bitterroot Audubon website for more information.