William Young searches the water for birds on Dec. 19 at the Christmas Bird Count. This Audubon-sponsored event takes place annually from Dec. 14-Jan. 5. He spots a blue heron but says the Black-crowned Night-Heron who used to be a regular “in that tree right back there” seems to have disappeared in recent years. And ducks seems to be diminishing while the Double-crested Cormorant population has exploded.