CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina bird watchers are joining their counterparts across the United States and Canada to find out what’s taking wing in their neighborhoods.

Saturday marks the second day of the weekend-long Great Backyard Bird Count. The annual late-winter bird count is in its 15th year, and it helps scientists collect valuable information about birds. The count is coordinated by the Cornell Lab or Ornithology, Audubon and Bird Studies Canada.

Last year, North Carolina came in fourth among all states and provinces for most checklists submitted, and it came in eighth among states reporting the most birds. Charlotte took second place among cities submitting the most checklists. Birders around the state recorded 180 species of birds, with Northern Cardinal being the most common bird and Northern Gannet being the most abundant.