Boreal owl Dec. 14, 2023

In the world of birdwatching, the Christmas Bird Count is a fun highlight of the year. This annual bird census was first launched in 1900. The first bird count involved just 27 people spread over 25 locations in Canada and the US. Since then, the count has grown exponentially, with more than 2,360 locations across the Western Hemisphere participating.

© Nick Saunders/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Festive foliage in the garden
Dec. 14, 2024Christmas Bird Count turns 125
Dec. 14, 2025Christmas Bird Count

More Desktop Wallpapers:

40 years of recovery
Apr. 29, 2025Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
Dec. 9, 2025National Llama Day
Feb. 25, 2026Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, United States
Nov. 6, 2025Celebrating Yi Peng
Jan. 23, 2024Maldives
Feb. 17, 2025Coll dAres, Catalan Pyrenees
Dec. 3, 2025Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, United States
Jul. 16, 2024Dinosaur Provincial Park
Jul. 4, 2024Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site
A beacon in the golden light
For Mother’s Day, we salute these marsupial moms
Sep. 22, 2024Autumn equinox
Meet for lunch?
The ‘Old Bridge,’ reborn
Oct. 8, 2025World Octopus Day
Aug. 25, 2025Colony of northern gannets in Quebec
Stripes in sight
Let there be lights!
Oct. 29, 2024Great horned owl
Dec. 22, 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye
Jul. 14, 2025Shark Awareness Day
May 21, 2024International Tea Day
If given Menton, make lemonade
Bright blue lakes and rugged mountains
Feb. 22, 2026Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England
Mar. 17, 2024St. Patricks Day
Mar. 17, 2026Happy St. Patricks Day!
Nov. 9, 2025Carl Sagan Day
Mar. 16, 2026Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta