The Audubon Society’s annual nationwide Christmas bird count has been around for decades, and Wrangell’s participation has been a fixture for years. But weather is always a factor, and miserable winter weather could interfere with plans for the Wrangell bird count scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20.

“I’m hoping it’s going to happen, with this weather,” Bonnie Demerjian, longtime organizer of the Wrangell count, said Friday, Dec. 12, looking at more snow in the forecast, followed by single-digit cold next weekend.

She does not plan to cancel the event, but said bad weather could reduce the number of counters in the field and on the water.

Volunteers train their eyes to count and report the variety and number of land and seabirds in the area. Demerjian said volunteers have stepped forward to walk four different routes around town Dec. 20, with a couple more volunteers planning to look and count from boats — unless it is too rough to go out on the water.

Others will stay at home, watching their bird feeders and reporting what they see.

Anyone who missed signing up and wants to monitor their bird feeder can call Demerjian for a bird count form at 907-796-9632.

The reports should be turned in to the U.S. Forest Service on Monday, so that they can compile the numbers and identities and send it in for the national count.

The December timing is particular to capture resident bird numbers — after migratory populations have left town for warmer winter homes.

The annual counts can help measure the overall increase or decrease in bird populations and provide information on the spread of invasive species which may have taken up residence in an area.

For the curious, Demerjian has recommended a variety of phone apps to help identify birds, including “The Sibley Guide to Birds” and the Audubon’s own guide. The Merlin Bird ID app allows people to record bird songs on their smartphone for identification.