Maine Woodcock

American Woodcock Habitat in the Gulf of Maine

Table of Contents

Identification Information
Data Quality Information
Spatial Data Organization Information
Spatial Reference Information
Entity and Attribute Information
Distribution Information
Metadata Reference Information

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IDENTIFICATION_INFORMATION

 Citation:   
  Citation_Information:
      Originator: Arnold Banner      
      Publication_Date: 20000223
      Title: American Woodcock Habitat in the Gulf of Maine (WCHAB83)
      Edition: 
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Falmouth, ME
        Publisher: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Gulf of Maine Program
      Other_Citation_Details:
         The Gulf of Maine Habitat Mapping Project used occurrence information and species/habitat 
          models to map potential habitat for 63 species of primary concern to the U.S. Fish and 
          Wildlife Service. These  include migratory birds, anadromous and estuarine fishes, and threatened or    
          endangered species.   The habitat models are based on published literature, agency reports, and           
          knowledge of experts working with the species.
      Online_Linkage: 
      Larger_Work_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator:  Arnold Banner and Sue Schaller
          Publication_Date: 
          Title: Gulf of Maine Habitat Mapping Project
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Falmouth, Maine
            Publisher: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf of Maine Program, Northeast Region
          Online_Linkage: 
  Description:
    Abstract:
      Habitat for woodcock was based on vegetative cover type, soils,
      patch size,  and interspersion of courtship/roosting with feeding/nesting components.
      For details see the model narrative: woodcock_model.htm
    Purpose:
      Habitat suitability information mapped for this and for 62
      other species of concern in the Gulf of Maine will be used
      to identify valuable areas for conservation, protection and enhancement of plant, fish and wildlife habitat.
    Supplemental_Information:
      The mapped habitat was tested using woodcock survey
      information and found to be significantly associated with occurrences of the birds.
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Range_of_Dates/Times:
        Beginning_Date: 
        Ending_Date: 
    Currentness_Reference: 
  Status:
    Progress: Complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.3892
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -66.8317
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.4396
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.6446
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Theme_Keyword: habitat
      Theme_Keyword: model
      Theme_Keyword: American woodcock
      Theme_Keyword: Scolopax minor
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Place_Keyword: Maine
      Place_Keyword: Massachusetts
      Place_Keyword: New Hampshire
      Place_Keyword: United States
      Place_Keyword: Gulf of Maine
  Access_Constraints:
  Use_Constraints:
  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf of Maine Program
        Contact_Person: Arnold Banner
      Contact_Position: Senior Biologist
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical address
        Address: 4R Fundy Road
        City: Falmouth
        State_or_Province: ME
        Postal_Code: 04105-1764
        Country: U.S.A.
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 207 781-8364
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 207 781-8369
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: fw5es_gomp.gis@fws.gov
      Hours_of_Service: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (Eastern Standard)
  Native_Data_Set_Environment:
    ESRI Grid format
    f:\arcdat\gom\birds\woodcock\wchab83
 
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DATA_QUALITY_INFORMATION


  Attribute_Accuracy:
    Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
      The accuracy of the attributes is determined by the scale and quality of the data sets used, 
      which may have errors in characterizing land cover, soil, or other environmental condition.
  Logical_Consistency_Report:
    This raster data set is based on a descriptive model, applied to available GIS datasets. The
     presence/absence of the species and relative scoring of habitats were validated using  
     woodcock survey data.
  Completeness_Report:
    The coverage may omit useful habitat or erroneously
    identify habitat because of limitations of the source data
    and the models operating on those data.  Habitat identification was limited by the 
    spatial resolution of the underlying data and the quality and age of information available.  
    The species may not be found in all the habitats shown, or may be found in additional areas; 
    the information provided may not accurately portray most recent conditions.
  Positional_Accuracy:
    Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
      Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
        Data set accuracy generally corresponds to that of the
        1:24,000 base data used to align the raster data.
    Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:
      Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
        N/A
  Lineage:
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Arnold Banner
          Publication_Date: 19990616
          Title: GOMLC7 
          Edition: 
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Falmouth, ME
            Publisher: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Gulf of Maine Program
          Other_Citation_Details:
          Online_Linkage: gomlc7.htm; see also Landcover_Data_Methods.htm
          Larger_Work_Citation:
            Citation_Information:
              Originator: Arnold Banner; Sue Schaller
              Publication_Date: 
              Title: Gulf of Maine Habitat Mapping Project
              Publication_Information:
                Publication_Place: Falmouth, ME
                Publisher: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Gulf of Maine Program
              Online_Linkage: 
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 
      Type_of_Source_Media: 
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Range_of_Dates/Times:
            Beginning_Date: 1993
            Ending_Date: 1993
        Source_Currentness_Reference: 
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 
      Source_Contribution: used to identify cover types, patch size
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation: woodcock surveys
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: USFWS in cooperation with New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine Wildlife agencies
          Publication_Date: 
          Title: 
          Edition: 
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet, database, map
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: 
            Publisher: 
          Other_Citation_Details:
          Online_Linkage: 
          Larger_Work_Citation: 
            Citation_Information:
              Originator: 
              Publication_Date: 
              Title: 
              Publication_Information:
                Publication_Place: 
                Publisher: 
              Online_Linkage: 
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 
      Type_of_Source_Media: 
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Range_of_Dates/Times:
            Beginning_Date: 1996
            Ending_Date: 1999
        Source_Currentness_Reference: 
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 
      Source_Contribution: known occurrences of woodcock (displaying males)
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation: USDA_NRCS Soils Surveys [by state, by county]
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: USDA_NRCS
          Publication_Date: 
          Title: soils
          Edition: 
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: 
            Publisher: USDA_NRCS Soils Surveys
          Other_Citation_Details:
          Online_Linkage: http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/stat_data.html, 
http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/ssur_data.html
          Larger_Work_Citation: Soils Surveys
            Citation_Information:
              Originator: 
              Publication_Date: 
              Title: 
              Publication_Information:
                Publication_Place: 
                Publisher: USDA_NRCS
              Online_Linkage: 
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 250,000 [statsgo]; 24,000 [ssurgo]
      Type_of_Source_Media: 
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Range_of_Dates/Times:
            Beginning_Date: 
            Ending_Date: 
        Source_Currentness_Reference: 
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 
      Source_Contribution: identification of moist loam soils, preferred for feeding
Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        Sites in the Gulf of Maine watershed were scored for nesting and foraging, or for roosting 
        and courtship, based on landcover and soil type, or landcover and area, respectively. Habitat 
        scores then were adjusted for interspersion of these two general types.  See also woodcock_model.htm
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 
      Process_Date: 
      Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: 
      Process_Contact:
        Contact_Information:
          Contact_Person_Primary:
            Contact_Organization: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf of Maine Program
            Contact_Person: Arnold Banner
          Contact_Position: Senior Field Biologist
          Contact_Address:
            Address_Type: mailing and physical address
            Address: 4R Fundy Road
            City: Falmouth
            State_or_Province: ME
            Postal_Code: 04105-1764
            Country: U.S.A.
          Contact_Voice_Telephone: 207 781-8364
          Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 207 781-8369
          Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: fw5es_gomp.gis@fws.gov
          Hours_of_Service: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (Eastern Standard)

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SPATIAL_DATA_ORGANIZATION_INFORMATION


  Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Raster
  Raster_Object_Information:
    Raster_Object_Type: Grid Cell, 30 m
    Row_Count: 21381
    Column_Count: 13972

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SPATIAL_REFERENCE_INFORMATION

 
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Planar:
      Grid_Coordinate_System:
        Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
        Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
          UTM_Zone_Number:  19
          Transverse_Mercator:
            Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
            Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -69.000000
            Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000
            False_Easting: 500000.000000
            False_Northing: 0.000000
      Planar_Coordinate_Information:
        Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: Row and column
        Coordinate_Representation:
          Abscissa_Resolution: 30
          Ordinate_Resolution: 30
        Planar_Distance_Units: Meters
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 80
      Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0000000
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.26

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ENTITY_AND_ATTRIBUTE_INFORMATION


  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: wchab83.vat
      Entity_Type_Definition: GRID Value Attribute Table
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source: None
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Value
      Attribute_Definition: Pixel value
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Model generated
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain:
          Software computed
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Count
      Attribute_Definition: Number of pixels with same value
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Software generated
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain:
          Software computed
  Overview_Description:
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
      Grid-cell Value: indexed to habitat suitability, where 10
      is optimal and 0 is unsuitable

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DISTRIBUTION_INFORMATION


  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf of Maine Program
        Contact_Person: Robert Houston
      Contact_Position: Wildlife Biologist / GIS Specialist
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical address
        Address: 4R Fundy Road
        City: Falmouth
        State_or_Province: ME
        Postal_Code: 04105-1764
        Country: U.S.A.
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 207 781-8364
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 207 781-8369
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: fw5es_gomp.gis@fws.gov
      Hours_of_Service: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (Eastern Standard)
  Resource_Description:
      This map may not accurately portray most recent conditions or occupation by the species, 
      and is not warranted for any use other than it's original purpose which was to provide 
      an estimate of habitat suitability. 
  Distribution_Liability:
      There are no restrictions on the use of this data.  However, secondary distribution must be 
       accompanied by this documentation.  Credit should always be given to the data source when
       this data is transferred or printed.
  Standard_Order_Process:
    Digital_Form:
      Digital_Transfer_Information:
        Format_Name:
      Digital_Transfer_Option:
        Offline_Option:
          Offline_Media: 
          Recording_Format: 
          Compatibility_Information:
    Fees: 
    Ordering_Instructions:

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METADATA_REFERENCE_INFORMATION


  Metadata_Date: 20000823
  Metadata_Review_Date: 
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf of Maine Program
        Contact_Person: Arnold Banner
      Contact_Position: Senior Field Biologist
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: Mailing and physical address
        Address: 4R Fundy Road
        City: Falmouth
        State_or_Province: ME
        Postal_Code: 04105-1764
        Country: U.S.A.
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 207 781-8364
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 207 781-8369
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: fw5es_gomp.gis@fws.gov
      Hours_of_Service: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (Eastern Standard)
  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC CSDGM
  Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

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Quebec Woodcock

Canadian Wildlife Service (CSW) Québec region

In 1995, a team of biologists from the Canadian Wildlife Service undertook a study of lead contamination in the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor). Since this species is not known to ingest lead shot, we all assumed that lead concentrations would be low or barely above the limit of detection. We were stunned, however, when the results of the chemical analyses proved the opposite. In fact, some concentrations were higher than those found in ducks. To set this study in its proper context, we need to go back in time a little. As early as 1995, the federal government had announced its intention to ban the use of lead shot for hunting migratory birds as of 1997. This measure was a response to studies showing that there was a risk of poisoning in waterfowl ingesting lead shot. However, most of the studies were done in aquatic environments, and there is very little information on land species. In order to fill this gap, the Canadian Wildlife Service decided in 1995, to set up a study, to determine lead exposure levels in the American Woodcock. Lead in the wing I have to say that after seeing the results of the chemical analyses (Table 1), most of my colleagues, including myself, were very surprised. On average, woodcocks are two to three times more heavily contaminated than ducks. The Québec and Atlantic regions are the most heavily polluted, and adult birds are more contaminated than the young, because they probably have been exposed longer. Lead concentrations were measured in the bones, where the metal accumulates over the bird’s life span. Thanks to the cooperation of hunters, we were able to gather enough wings. Only the ones in good condition, some 1 600, were kept for chemical analysis. The sex and age of each bird was determined with the use of identifiers. Where does this lead come from? Such high lead concentrations raised many questions. First of all, where does this heavy pollution come from, and what is the source of the lead? It is easy to conclude that the lead may come from food or lead shot. Food, in the case of the American Woodcock, means earthworms, which make up 80% of the woodcock’s diet, or soil ingested with prey. The second part of the question, however, — the source of the lead — is harder to answer. Very often, a series of plausible hypotheses can be put forward, but proving any of them can sometimes turn into a police investigation. First of all, what are these hypotheses? Lead may be ingested directly as shot, or it may spread slowly through the food chain as shot breaks down in the soil over the years, or it may come from residues of the leaded gasoline used in Canada for so many years, airborne pollution from foundries and other industries that use lead, or from the pesticides once commonly applied. We must now try to identify the hypothesis explaining the lead’s origins. Acting as detectives, we decided to investigate the victims, namely the woodcocks. We therefore asked hunters to send us the wings and stomachs of the birds they had shot. We were able to verify that there was no shot in their gizzards. We then visited the scene of the crime, so to speak, and gathered evidence, taking soil samples and worm specimens at a number of stations in Québec, the Maritimes and Ontario in woodcock habitat. These samples were analyzed for lead and arsenic content. Average lead concentrations in the earthworms and soil samples were 26 g/g and 24 g/g (dry weight) respectively. Soil lead concentrations were highest in the area south of Montréal, with values varying from 60 to 200 g/g. Soil arsenic concentrations were very low, thus dismissing the hypothesis that the lead might come from the pesticides containing both arsenic and lead widely used in local orchards until the seventies. Analyzing the atomic structure of lead Continuing with our inquiries, we resorted to a more sophisticated technique: isotope analysis of the lead in wings, soil and earthworms. Just as the police uses DNA to identify a suspect, we used isotopes to try to identify the sources. Lead isotopes have already been used to determine the origin of arctic air pollution (Europe was its main source). In some cases of lead poisoning in children, paint was determined to be the source, on the basis of comparisons of isotope ratios in soil and paint samples. However, we may never really be able to correctly identify the origin of the lead because it may come from a variety of sources. The results of comparisons of lead isotope ratios in soil, worms and woodcock wings allow us to conclude that in Ontario and the Maritimes the lead doesn’t come from the leaded gasoline that was in use for a long time. What sets Québec apart from other regions is that no trend or pattern has emerged so far, but other chemical and statistical analyses are under way. An answer is needed In short, much to our surprise, high concentrations of lead were found in the bones of the American Woodcock. Two potential sources have been eliminated: leaded gasoline in the Ontario and Maritime regions and pesticide in all three regions. No clear pattern is apparent so far in Québec, but a lot of work remains to be done in order to obtain a more complete answer.

Ruffed Grouse Society

Woodcock Hunting Survey Provides Skinny On Hunter Satisfaction And Trends

Ruffed Grouse Society

Coraopolis, PA - -(AmmoLand.com)- The results of a woodcock hunting survey suggest that a typical woodcock hunter is a 40 plus year old male, who hunts woodcock primarily while hunting for other game animals, (grouse, bobwhite quail and rabbits); hunts woodcock 10 days or less each year and harvests 10 or fewer woodcock each season.

Conducted by the Ruffed Grouse Society, the mailed questionnaire which randomly queried 2,025 hunters nationwide also revealed that 19-percent of the respondents hunt woodcock in more than one state or Province.

When it came to harvest numbers over the last five years, 56-percent said they shot five or less, 24-percent between 6 and 10, 14-percent 11-20 and 6-percent killed between 21-50. None of those surveyed indicated they harvested 50 or more.

The survey showed most woodcock hunters appear satisfied with the current season and bag limit structure. Seventy percent feel that the 3-bird daily bag limit is adequate; 7-percent said it was to low, 6-percent thought it was too high and 17-percent had no opinion.

As for the length of the season, 61-percent said the season was sufficient, 16-percent said it was too short; 2-percent thought it too high and 21-percent had no opinion.

Although the highest percentage of respondents (38-percent) stated the overall quality of woodcock hunting has remained about the same over the past 5 years, hunters who feel that it has gotten worse (33-percent) far outnumber those who feel it has become better (17-percent). Likewise, although the majority of woodcock hunters (52-percent) are hunting about the same number of days as they were 5 years ago, 26-percent said they are hunting less, while 13-percent said they are hunting more. Nine-percent haven’t hunted woodcock at all.

“This decline in hunter effort could be due to a perceived decline in hunt quality, or because hunters are getting older, or both,” said Dan Dessecker, RGS Director of Conservation Policy.

Of those woodcock hunters that expressed an opinion, 38-percent support the idea of establishing a $15 permit to hunt woodcock if the generated funds were used for woodcock habitat conservation, while 48-percent opposed, and 14-percent were unsure.

Not surprisingly, hunters who could be considered more dedicated (those who hunt more days each year or hunt in more than one state or province) are more likely to support a permit than are casual woodcock hunters.

Forty-seven percent of survey respondents suggest that they would, or probably would continue to hunt woodcock if required to purchase a permit in order to do so, while 40-percent said they would not, or probably would not continue to hunt woodcock if they had to pay an additional $15.

This collaborative survey was conducted to gain insight into what woodcock hunters think about their sport is the first such random, nationwide survey ever conducted.

The survey had a 27-percent response rate.

To view the RGS National Woodcock Migration Map

About:
Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is the one international wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting conditions suitable for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and related wildlife to sustain our sport hunting tradition and outdoor heritage.

Information on the RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.

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Tags: RGS, Ruffed Grouse Society, Wildlife Management, Woodcock Hunting

Massachusetts Woodcock

Cowls Sawmill & Land Company 134 Montague Road P.O. Box 9677 North Amherst, MA 01059 413-549-1403 Fax 413-549-0000 Email Us

Back to NEWS American Woodcock Initiative The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, The Ruffed Grouse Society, the Wildlife Management Institute and Cowl's Land and Lumber Company of North Amherst have teamed up in a habitat partnership to join the American Woodcock Initiative. The Initiative's goal is to focus habitat management efforts to benefit American woodcock and other declining wildlife populations through maintenance of field and shrubland habitats and the creation of young forest habitat in Massachusetts. Young forest habitat makes up less than 5% of forest habitat types in the state. They consist of densely growing stands of young seedling and sapling trees typically no more than 30 years old. This type of habitat establishes itself in areas after major forest disturbances such as heavy wind or ice storms, fires, flooding or by certain types of timber harvest techniques. Woodcock, as well as New England cottontails, chestnut sided warblers and wood turtles are among the species which depend on young forest habitats for all or parts of their lives. The lack of young forest habitat has contributed to declines of these species throughout southern New England. Private landowners own more than 80% of forest land in Massachusetts. Historically, they have managed their forest lands through partial cutting of mature trees. On a large scale landscape, this cutting practice has resulted in the older, mature forest stands seen in much of Massachusetts. Wildlife and forest ecologists have long known that certain forestry practices such as clear cutting achieve many of the same benefits of natural disturbances and are an effective means of creating young forests. With the advice and assistance from the Woodcock Initiative Partners, clear cuts will take place in carefully selected forested areas where they will create much needed young forest habitat on Cowl's properties benefiting woodcock populations as well as other wildlife. "It was kind of counter-intuitive to me at first," admits Cinda Jones, 9th generation co-owner and President of Cowl's Land and Lumber Company. "We've always been praised for selectively cutting areas and never clear cutting. Through this partnership, I've learned that some times larger openings are what some wildlife species require for survival. We've always worked hard to do the right thing environmentally and to assure long term benefits to our forests, fish and wildlife. It's gratifying to take our efforts a few steps further through this partnership." "Under the Jones family's leadership, Cowl's philosophy of enlightened forest management integrates strong environmental stewardship into the business of providing locally harvested forest products, said Paul Karczmarczyk , Regional Wildlife Biologist of the Ruffed Grouse Society. "This project builds on that proud history by addressing the lack of young forest habitat across the New England landscape, one of the most critical forest wildlife problems in our region. The outputs of this effort will not only benefit declining woodcock, ruffed grouse and other forest songbird populations, but will build a solid habitat foundation for the recovery of rare and threatened forest biota like New England cottontails, wood turtles, the large-leafed goldenrod and golden-winged warblers." The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has long recognized that restoring and maintaining habitat is essential to perpetuating Massachusetts' native wildlife and has been directing efforts towards wildlife habitat protection, restoration and management. "The Division has a goal of maintaining or creating young forest habitat on 15-20% of its own properties. Ideally, we would like to see that same percentage applied across the all forest lands in the state." said George Darey, Chairman of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. "It is our hope that by reaching out to large private landowners such as Cowl's; working with them on similar wildlife habitat projects will reverse declining trends in wildlife species in need of conservation for generations to come." Funding for the Woodcock Initiative comes from the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), a private, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization, dedicated to the conservation, enhancement and professional management of North America's wildlife and other natural resources. "The Cowl's partnership with the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is an excellent example of the type of partnership that we are promoting in Massachusetts and other northeastern states with important woodcock nesting ranges. Recovery of woodcock populations will rely upon private landowners having the knowledge and resources to improve their lands as habitat," says Scot Williamson, Vice President of the Wildlife Management Institute. In an effort to communicate the importance of forest management for young forest habitat, the Wildlife Management Institute tinkered with Cowl's Lumber popular "got wood?" bumper sticker and produced a new sticker that reads "got woodcock?" listing the project's partners and mission. "got woodcock?" bumper stickers may be obtained by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to the Wildlife Management Institute, 69 Clinton Avenue, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. Article from Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough, MA 01581 Tel: (508) 389-6300; Fax: (508) 389-7890 website: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/habitat/management/upland_birds/woodcock_initiative.htm