Estrella Segovia, facilities assistant manager, right, helps a family look for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
When the group of bird counters gathered Sunday morning for the state’s annual Christmas Bird Count wrap-up, the sounds of children’s voices added to the excitement.
Tracy Aviary expanded its annual bird counting initiative, part of a nationwide effort, to include families and children to participate in the local conservation effort.
The group met Sunday at its Nature Center at Pia Okwai along the Jordan River around noon and fanned out for the count. The counting effort started on Dec. 14 and wrapped up Sunday.
New this year was a Spanish-speaking guide to encourage increased participation by the Latino community. Those who participated learned about bird conservation efforts and how to collect population data on various native species.
Tracy Aviary has hosted an annual bird count for decades.
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Deseret News photojournalist Tess Crowley joined the bird count and shared these images.
Tahlia Meyer, 3, looks looks for birds on father Eric Meyers’ shoulders during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Amanda Mayer looks for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tahlia Meyer, 3, looks at birds in a tree during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Martine Ferrone, center, looks for birds with the group during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Vivian Meyer, 6, left, prepares to write down how many birds she saw during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Harriet Napier helps son Theo Kelner, 3, hold his binoculars to look for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Amanda Meyer, right, looks for birds with daughter Vivian Meyer, 6, left, during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Amanda Meyer looks for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tom Grosman, 4, left, and mother Maya Tzunz, right, look for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Thalia Alfaro, conservation education ecologist, tallies the birds people saw during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Theodore Tufts, 5, uses a walkie-talkie to talk to a new friend about the birds he sees during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tahlia Meyer, 3, looks looks for birds on father Eric Meyers’ shoulders during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tom Grosman, 4, mother Maya Tzunz, Tahlia Meyer, 3, and mother Amanda Meyer, from left, prepare to go outside to look for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tahlia Meyer, 3, left, looks for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Vivian Meyer, 6, left, writes down how many birds she saw during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
People look for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Indy Alfaro, 3, right, looks for birds during Tracy Aviary’s first bilingual Christmas Bird Count at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The bird count encourages families to help in local bird conservation efforts by collecting population data on various native species. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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