Approximately 14,000 birds of 108 species were recorded in Mathews County and the Ware Neck area of Gloucester during Sunday’s 113th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, according to Joyce McKelvey, who compiled the numbers along with her husband, Don.

The event drew 45 participants, who braved chilly weather that remained cold as winds picked up throughout the day. The local count is part of the National Audubon Society’s survey, which is held from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5 each year worldwide.

The Mathews circle’s numbers were up slightly from last year, when approximately 13,200 birds were spotted by 41 volunteers.

Birds of note, McKelvey said, included a Western Kingbird on Gwynn’s Island, a Marbled Godwit, a Black-crowned Night Heron, a Short-billed Dowitcher and a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Bethel Beach, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Hudgins, nine Willets and a Coot at New Point, and an American Bittern in the Glebe.

Only 521 Eastern Bluebirds were spotted during the day, a moderate number. McKelvey said that volunteers counted a large number of Yellow-rumped Warblers. A promising sign for the local bird population was the large number of Bald Eagles, 37, reported—up from 30 last year. Notable by their absence, she said, were any Mute Swans.

“I think they did exceptionally well,” McKelvey said of the volunteers, adding that they had good coverage in all 15 sectors in the Mathews circle.

Data collected by these citizen scientists’ observations helps to identify species at risk, initiate conservation strategies, and locate birds on the move due to changes in habitat. The 2013 Christmas Bird Count in Mathews will be held on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014.

Volunteers taking part in Sunday’s count were John and Marilyn Adair, Judith P. Anderson, Michael D. Andrews, Lee and Meredith Bell, Edith Bradbury, Gene and Susan Burreson, John and Caroline Coe, Larry Corson, Jacob Durren, Karen Durren-Wahlstrom, Gayle Fasano, Bettye Fields, Jane Frigo, Betsy Garrett, Nancy Gruttman-Tyler, Brent C. Heath, Linda Hildenbrand, Ralph G. and Mary E. Horn, Cindy Kane, Julie Kacmarcik, Robert L. B. Koster, Don and Joyce McKelvey, George K. McLellan, Margaret O’Bryan, Michele Plotino, Phyllis S. Roth, John Schmerfeld, Dot Silsby, William K. (Bill) Slate, Frank Schaff, Brent and Laura Slaughter, Will and Kim Smith, Mark Sopko, Tobey Stout, Shawn Towne, Dave Youker and Charles (Zig) Ziegenfus, who hosted the tally at the Foster-Faulkner office complex with his wife, L.C.

For more information, or to participate in next year’s count, contact McKelvey at mathewsbirdcount@yahoo.com.