Counting birds is for the people who want to volunteer.

For the 43rd year, volunteers will be part of the North County Christmas Bird Count Dec. 29.

Last year 125 volunteers participated. They counted 44,000 birds of 138 species, which was second to Sequim-Dungeness out of the 40 statewide.

Participants count in a variety of ways: on foot, by car, by motor boat to Hat Island, by kayak along Steamboat Slough, and by bicycle along Centennial Trail.

Organizer Scott Atkinson said needed most at this point are people who want to report birds from their own property.

“Here is a chance to look up from the cell phone, laptop or big screen and work off a few of those extra holiday pounds in a Christmastime tradition,” Atkinson said.

The count area is: north to Island Crossing, west to Kayak Point, east to the west edge of Lake Stevens, south to downtown Everett and a slim strip of southernmost Camano Island.

Atkinson said you never know what you are going to see.

“One year a Snowy Owl from the far north showed up on Jetty Island, yet nearby on Spencer Island there were six Tree and two Barn Swallows – as if wintering in southern Mexico,” he said. “So you just never know what will turn up.”

Report your numbers to 425-210-2716 or scottratkinson@hotmail.com.