Members of the Eastside Audubon chapter counted a record 97 species of birds during their annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, Dec. 20.

This was the 31st year for the count, which takes place in the Snoqualmie Valley, Preston, Fall City, the Sammamish Plateau, Issaquah, Redmond and along the east and west sides of Lake Sammamish.

Four new species were added to the all-time list of birds seen, including a golden eagle, Eurasian-collard doves, a turkey vulture and a gyrfalcon.

“The annual bird census enables scientists to see long-term trends in bird populations and range,” said Andy McCormick, president of Eastside Audubon. “Many birds are on the brink of losing suitable habitat due to climate change.”

A recent report from the National Audubon Society on birds and climate change identified 50 birds in Washington State at risk.

The data collected are sent to the National Audubon Society, which has been conducting similar counts for 115 years, since Christmas Day of 1900.

The early winter bird census involves thousands of volunteers across the US, Canada, and many countries in the Western Hemisphere.

The data collected over the past century allow researchers, conservation biologists and interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America.

More than 50 people participated during the Eastside Audubon count, following specified routes and counting every bird they saw or heard.

Eastside Audubon is the National Audubon Society chapter active in Bellevue, Bothell, Carnation, Duvall, Issaquah, Kirkland, North Bend, Redmond, Sammamish, Snoqualmie, Woodinville and unincorporated East King County.

More information about the organization is available at www.eastsideaudubon.org.