Environment : Notes about your surroundings.

Countdown, Part 2--Today is the biggest day of the year for local birders, as they fan out along the coast to take part in the annual coastal bird count sponsored by the Sea & Sage Chapter of the National Audubon Society. Inland areas of the county were surveyed Dec. 17.

Results of the two counts will be released in January. Last year’s coastal count turned up 201 species, fourth highest in the country, while the inland (or northeastern) count tallied 161 species. The success of a count depends largely on the weather, which should be clear today.

Sea & Sage will hold its annual specialties field trip Saturday, which highlights areas where unusual species were spotted during the counts. For information call count chairman Gerald Tolman, (714) 539-8040.

Reminder--Sea & Sage continues its efforts to reintroduce native plants to Irvine Regional Park with a day of planting from 8 a.m. until early afternoon on Jan. 7. The area to be planted is in the southeastern region of the park.

Volunteers are invited to drop by. Bring work gloves and boots and a hand trowel and cultivator (or tools will be provided). To reach the park, take Chapman Avenue east from the Costa Mesa until it ends. Ask for directions to the planting at the park gate.

For further information, call Susan Sheakley, (714) 552-5974.