Between now and the end of the year, local Audubon chapters and bird watching groups are gearing up for the annual Christmastime bird count–a national inventory of species taken by volunteers gathered in small groups across the country. On Saturday, Dec. 18, Wake County Audubon holds its Annual Christmas Bird Count. To volunteer and get trained for the count, contact John Connors at John.Connors@ncmail.net or John Gerwin at John.Gerwin@ncmail.net.