Today is the Hancock County Christmas Bird Count, part of the Audubon Society’s 114th annual event that runs from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 nationwide.

The local group was on the beach at St. Charles early this morning with cameras and binoculars.

Counters observe birds in a 15-mile wide circle and the information they gather is put into a huge database that is used to show how birds are faring.