The 46th Annual Christmas Bird Count will take place Saturday, Jan. 2.

People all over Marysville and Arlington, along with Everett and other parts of Snohomish County, will take part. The last CBS effort included a record 113 people, who counted 140 species of birds.

No experience is required, and people can count in as small or large of an area as they like, organizer Scott Atkinson said. People with just a bird feeder in their yard or wanting to count birds on their own property or neighborhood can help.

Last year, one person biked and birded along Centennial Trail from Lake Cassidy to southwest Arlington. Three kayak birding teams plied the waters from the Marysville waterfront to the north end of Ebey Island.

This year, more than 100 people already are signed up, about half of whom are counting feeders at home.

Atkinson says counting in the field is best from dawn to noon. Keep notes, dress warm as the weather forecast is clear and cold, and bring food. Sunrise is 7:58 a.m., and sunset 4:29 p.m. High tides are at the beginning and end of the day, with low tide at 12:20 p.m.

A potluck dinner will take place at the home of Art and Shirley Wait, 410 14th Place, Snohomish, at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone interested may call Atkinson at 425-210-2716 or email scottratkinson@hotmail.com.