Thousands of Utahns will be making a list and checking it twice in coming weeks.
But the list-making has nothing to do with gifts.
The 115th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count gets underway this weekend across North America.
The free counts — which run Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 in Utah and range from Bear Lake to Antelope Island to St. George — create one of the largest citizen scientist surveys on the planet as people turn their eyes to the skies searching for birds in marshes, suburban parks and concrete jungles.
Across the country, a record number of counters — 71,659 — participated in bird counts last year, racking up an astronomical number of birds — 66,243,371 — and more than 2,403 species.
Longtime birders and others new to the Christmas count contributed to the cause.
Keith Evans of Ogden, who attended his first count in 1960, has been compiling the results of the Utah and Wyoming counts for more than a decade.
Evans reported that there were 20 counts in Utah last year, documenting a high bird species count in the state — 194.
Utah's number of species ranged from 180-189 for years until the 113th count in 2012, when 192 unique species were spotted.
While a massive invasion of snowy owls was documented on the East Coast during the count, the Intermountain states' counts generated much more routine sightings in their 114th year.
The most exciting report came from a count in St. George, where one streak-backed oriole was spotted. The streak-backed oriole is considered a rare visitor from Mexico.
Evans noted the Salt Lake City count had 19 participants under the age of 19 last year.
"It's always good to involve the youth in these activities," he said.
Three of Utah's Christmas bird counts exceeded 100 species.
Other highlights of the 2013 count include:
— Wintering American robin populations have remained fairly stable in Utah and last year was a "banner" year, Evans noted, with 13,819 counted.
— Last year also was good for cedar waxwings, with 2,519 counted. The 5-year average through 2012 was 1,876.
— Bohemian waxwings, on the other hand, were missing last year. Only two were spotted, compared to 3,092 during the 108th count.
— Cold temperatures in late November and into December iced over many of the waters and waterfowl had already moved south in migration.
brettp@sltrib.com
Twitter: @BrettPrettyman
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune An adult Bald Eagle spotted just south of Jordanelle Resrvoir during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state. The annual Heber Valley Count began at the Wasatch Mountain State Park Visitor Center, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune One o fthe Mallard Ducks spotted during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune A Black Capped Chickadee darts among the cattails and reeds just south of Jordanelle Reservoir during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune A Black Capped Chickadee darts among the cattails and reeds just south of Jordanelle Reservoir during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune A Great Blue Heron spotted during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Duane Smith and Robert Duke look through a Sibley's Bird Guide to find the correct identification of Song Sparrow they located during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Duane Smith and Robert Duke look through a Sibley's Bird Guide to find the correct identification of Song Sparrow they located during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Duane Smith looks through his copy of Sibley's Bird Guide to identify a species of Sparrow he spotted during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Birder Duane Smith records the birds he's spotted near Jordanelle Reservoir in a samll notebook during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Duane Smith (above) leans down to examine some bird tracks (below) in the snow near Jordalle Reservoir during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Over sixty geese are counted as they fly over the Jordanelle Reservoir Dam during the 112th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts are being held across the state, Saturday, December 17, 2011.