Okoboji, Iowa (NorthwestIowaNow.com) — Bird lovers in the Iowa Great Lakes area have a chance to take part in a long-running citizen science tradition this weekend.

The 2025 Christmas Bird Count is happening this Saturday, December 20th. If you want to join the group, meet up at the Lakeside Lab Dining Hall at 7:30 in the morning. They are providing coffee, materials, and a soup lunch at noon—but they do ask that you B-Y-O-B… in this case, that means Bring Your Own Binoculars.

If you prefer to stay warm indoors, you can also participate from home. You can download a “Bird Feeder Count Sheet” and submit your own data by email to the Friends of Lakeside Lab.