AMERICAN WOODCOCK ORGANIZATION

Maine Woodcock

2009-04-05T07:11:00.001-07:00

American Woodcock Habitat in the Gulf of Maine

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

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

2009-04-05T07:06:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

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.

Massachusetts Woodcock

2009-04-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

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

Maine Woodcock features http://www.americangundog.com/AGD2-E3.html

2009-03-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

Maine / Woodcock

Harley Jackson (Host) is on the hunt for Woodcock at Leen's Lodge in Grand Lake Stream, Maine. With Charles Driza and Joe McMillian as his guides, Harley gets a chance at these challenging, small birds. Despite the thick cover, Harley gets his limit with help from English Pointers, Jack, Hank and Rock. The great shots by Harley and Charles and the amazing retrievals by the dogs makes this trip memorable. Straight Shooter, Nick Seifert debunks the myth of brush busting loads and Chef Iverson Brownell serves whole birds in Wild Game Gourmet.

Grand Lake Stream, Maine

Host Harley Jackson, Charles
Driza and Joe McMillian

English Pointer, Jack on point

Retrieval by Charles Driza's
loyal dog Jack

Harley Jackson making the shot
in the thick cover

Retreival by Charles Driza's
9-month old, Rock

MaineWoodcock features http://www.fws.gov/northeast/moosehorn/American_Woodcock.htm

2009-03-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Elusive Timberdoodle

American Woodcock are studied and managed intensively at Moosehorn. Timberdoodle, mud-sucker, and mud bat are all local names for the woodcock. Unlike their relatives, these reclusive shorebirds have evolved to live in the forests of eastern North America.

The Atlantic population of Woodcock has declined steadily over the past two decades. Loss of habitat through conversion of brush-covered land into house-lots, tree plantations, and mature forests is mostly responsible for their downfall.

Feathered Acrobats

Woodcock are best known for their spectacular spring courtship flights. In late April and early May, birders flock to clearings to watch the male Woodcock perform.

Whistling Wings

Sitting in his territory (his "singing ground") the male sings a nasal "peent" every five seconds. After about 20 "peents," he bursts into flight, spiraling high into the sky. He sings to waiting females while his wings whistle as the wind passes through his feathers. He returns to the same spot after each flight and repeats this several times.

Such Fussy Little Birds

Woodcock need specific, diverse habitats for survival:

	Clearings for roosting and courtship;
	Dense, alder thickets for foraging for earthworms;
	Young, hardwood forests for nesting and brooding.

Moosehorn has pioneered efforts to understand woodcock biology and develop management techniques. Forest harvesting creates clearings, which grow into shrubby thickets and eventually mature forests.

Research

Wildlife biologists band Woodcock from late spring through early fall. These birds are weighed, sexed, aged, and their bills are measured. The biologists then place a small metal band containing a unique number on one of the birds legs. Banded birds that are recaptured or killed (by predators, accident, or hunters) and found are reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via a toll-free number on the band. This information is used to estimate population sizes and migration routes.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Home Page

More Information:
Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
103 Headquarters Road, Suite 1
Baring, ME 04694
Phone: (207) 454 - 7161 Fax: (207) 454 - 2550
fw5rw_mhnwr@fws.gov

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AMERICAN WOODCOCK

2009-01-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

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American Woodcock
Source:
U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Biological Resources Division report:
The Status and Trends of the Nation's Biological Resources

(Detailed source information is at bottom of page.)

For more information:

Woodcock management suggestions (at http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/rhgiles/speciesssm/wcock.htm).

David Brown's information on the woodcock: where it is found on the Alewife Reservation, plus his advice and observations, in his 2002 Migrant and Breeding Bird Survey.

The American woodcock is a shorebird that inhabits forested areas from Manitoba east to Newfoundland and Labrador and south to the Gulf of Mexico. It is known by a variety of colorful local names including timberdoodle, Labrador twister, brush snipe, woods snipe, and bog sucker. The woodcock is a popular game bird throughout eastern North America and is the object of an estimated 3.4 million days of recreational hunting annually (U.S. Department of the Interior 1990). Hunters in the United States harvest an estimated 1.1 million woodcock annually (Straw et al. 1994), making woodcock among the top ten species of migratory game birds harvested in the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways.

The most distinctive features of the woodcock are its long bill (60-75 millimeters), which is specialized for feeding on earthworms, and its large eyes, which are set far back for 360o vision (Keppie and Whiting 1994). Woodcock are cryptically colored and more compact than other shorebirds. Females are larger than males, with female weights ranging from 151 grams to 279 grams, and males from 116 grams to 219 grams (Mendall and Aldous 1943; Owen and Krohn 1973). Their plumage consists of a mottled pattern of browns, black, buff, and gray. Short powerful wings allow them excellent maneuverability when flying through the thickets and tangled brush where they live (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. A female American woodcock in typical habitat. Courtesy D. McAuley, USGS

The northeastern states are a major breeding area for woodcock. Most woodcock winter south of the region except for a small population along coastal Virginia. Cape May, New Jersey, and Cape Charles, Virginia, are major staging areas for woodcock during migration, especially in the fall. Birds arrive in the Northeast from wintering areas as early as February in some states, but the peak of the breeding season is in April and May. These birds are probably the earliest nesters among ground-nesting species in North America. Around dawn and dusk during the breeding season, males of this secretive species come out of hiding to perform a spectacular display. Courtship begins with a ground display during which the male turns and utters a nasal "peent" for about a minute. This is followed by a 45- to 60-second aerial display in which the male spirals 30 to 90 meters above the ground while creating a distinctive twittering sound with the outer three wing primaries. The display ends with a melodic warbling call during the descent. After the bird alights at the takeoff point, the sequence is repeated (Mendall and Aldous 1943; Straw et al. 1994). Courtship bouts last 25-45 minutes, depending on duration of twilight, but may continue throughout the night during periods of bright moonlight.

Habitat requirements of woodcock vary with activity, time of day, and season. Woodcock spend the daylight hours using their long bills to probe for earthworms, which make up nearly 80% of their diet (Sperry 1940; Keppie and Whiting 1994). They rely on their cryptic coloration and the dense vegetation to hide them from predators. At dawn and dusk they fly from the protection of their daytime cover to fields and openings to roost, feed, or mate. They are not restricted to specific plant assemblages (Keppie and Whiting 1994) as long as the habitat provides the necessary stem density and structure (Straw et al. 1994). The birds prefer early-successional habitats created by periodic disturbance of the forest; optimal habitat is provided by dense hardwood cover on good soils with an abundance of earthworms (Straw et al. 1994). Thus, young forests and abandoned farmland mixed with forested land are ideal woodcock habitat (Keppie and Whiting 1994).

Woodcock use forest openings, clear-cuts, fields, roads, pastures, and abandoned farmland as display areas (singing grounds) for courtship (Mendall and Aldous 1943; Liscinsky 1972). Vegetative composition of the singing ground varies locally and throughout the range and is probably unimportant as a determinant of use (Dwyer et al. 1988; Sepik et al. 1993). More likely the quality of the adjacent habitat for nesting and brood-rearing determines use by males. Young aspen, birch, hawthorn, alder, and dogwood provide appropriate cover in the Northeast (Keppie and Whiting 1994; Straw et al. 1994). Nests and broods are found in young to mixed-age forests, but young, open, second-growth stands are preferred (Mendall and Aldous 1943). In areas where habitat is managed, woodcock select stands of young hardwood regeneration (Gregg and Hale 1977; McAuley et al. 1996). During summer, young hardwoods and mixed woods with shrubs, particularly alders less than 20 years old, provide daytime cover for feeding (Morgenweck 1977; Rabe 1977; Hudgins et al. 1985).

Woodcock are sometimes found in stands of mature forest, but only if there is a dense understory (Sheldon 1967; Rabe 1977). In the Northeast, woodcock rarely use conifer stands, except during drought when they may be critical for survival (Sepik et al. 1983). On summer nights, many birds roost in clearings, such as blueberry barrens, pastures, recently harvested woodlands, and plantations (Dunford and Owen 1973; Sepik et al. 1981; Sepik and Derleth 1993). Woodcock use many of these same fields as singing grounds in the spring. In the fall and during migration, woodcock spend the days in young, moist hardwoods with shrub understories (Keppie and Whiting 1994), whereas in winter they use a variety of habitats during the day, especially bottomland hardwoods, upland mixed pine-hardwoods, and recently burned stands of longleaf pine (Glasgow 1958; Britt 1971; Dyer and Hamilton 1977).

Woodcock are managed on the basis of two regional populations, the eastern and the central (Owen et al. 1977); northeastern states are part of the eastern management unit. Analysis of band recovery data indicates that little crossover of birds occurs between the regions (Martin et al. 1969; Krohn et al. 1974). Furthermore, regional boundaries conform with the boundary between the Atlantic and Mississippi waterfowl flyways.

Reliable indices of population size, productivity, harvest size, and distribution of woodcock are difficult to obtain (Bruggink and Kendall 1995). Because of their small size, cryptic color, and preference for dense vegetation, woodcock cannot be censused. The status of the woodcock population is now monitored with a wing-collection survey and the singing-ground survey.

The wing-collection survey was developed in the 1960's to monitor productivity. Cooperating woodcock hunters and some waterfowl hunters who hunt woodcock provide wings from birds that they shoot (Bruggink and Kendall 1995). Hunters are also asked to record the effort and success of their hunts. Age and sex of the birds can be determined from plumage characteristics (Martin 1964), and the ratio of immature birds to adult females in the survey sample provides an index of recruitment. The recruitment index for woodcock in the eastern region for 1995 (1.4 immatures per adult female) was higher than in 1994 but was 17.6% less than the long-term average of 1.7 immatures per adult female (Bruggink and Kendall 1995; Fig. 2), indicating poor production of young in recent years, although these numbers should be interpreted with caution (see Owen et al. 1977 and Straw et al. 1994). A major problem of the wing-collection survey is that it is not random, because no comprehensive sampling frame exists for woodcock hunters. When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Harvest Information Program is implemented, this framework will be provided. Under this program, states will provide the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with a computerized address list of everyone who purchases a hunting license, allowing for a true random selection of hunters for the survey.

Fig. 2. Adjusted annual indices of recruitment, 1963-1994, determined from wings sent in to the annual woodcock wing-collection survey from states in the eastern region. Red line is the 1963-1993 average (Bruggink and Kendall 1995).

Researchers developed the singing-ground survey to count displaying males during the breeding season. Since 1968 randomly chosen roadside routes have been surveyed for "singing" male woodcock to provide an index of the population size. Routes were established along lightly traveled secondary roads in the central and northern portion of the breeding range. The survey consists of approximately 1,500 routes, each 5.8 kilometers long and consisting of 10 listening points. Recent (1985-1995) and long-term (1968-1994) trends in the singing-ground survey suggest that woodcock populations have declined at an annual rate of 2.0% recently and 2.4% long term in the eastern region (Fig. 3). Populations in the central region declined an average of 2.8% annually from 1985 to 1995 and an average of 1.4% per year from 1968 to 1994 (Bruggink and Kendall 1995). In every state in the Northeast except New Hampshire, the number of males heard on the singing-ground survey has declined (Bruggink and Kendall 1995).

Fig. 3. Long-term trend and annual indices of the number of woodcock heard on the woodcock singing-ground survey in the eastern region, 1968-1995 (Bruggink and Kendall 1995).

The major causes of the long-term decline in woodcock populations are not known but probably result from degradation and loss of suitable habitat on both the breeding and the wintering grounds (Owen et al. 1977; Dwyer et al. 1983; Straw et al. 1994). Researchers have associated habitat loss with urbanization and forest succession on the northern breeding areas and with drainage and land-use conversion on the wintering grounds (Straw et al. 1994). Although forests cover 60%-90% of New England (Brooks and Birch 1988; Waddell et al. 1989) and northern New England is at least 75% forested (DeGraaf et al.1993), the forests of the Northeast are aging. New England forests are currently dominated by saw timber-sized trees, whereas the early successional seedling-sapling stands that woodcock require are becoming regionally scarce. As of 1988, young stands made up only 8% of the timberland in New England (Brooks and Birch 1988), a trend consistent throughout the Northeast (Fig. 4). The decline in young forest is the result of changing management objectives and techniques, changing attitudes of landowners, a decline in farm abandonment, increased fire suppression, and increased urbanization (Brooks and Birch 1988; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996). Thus, most changes in the timberland resources of this region have resulted from changes in forest structure and not from gains or losses in acreage. Most woodcock habitat in the Northeast is privately owned; timber companies control the next largest portion of this resource, and state and federal agencies control the smallest portion (U.S. Department of the Interior 1990). State and federal governments and private agencies need to determine ways to stimulate creation of woodcock habitat on private lands.

Fig. 4. Changes in the area of seedling-sapling forest in selected states in the Northeast, 1978-1996 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996).

To increase the woodcock population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed an American Woodcock Management Plan (U.S. Department of the Interior 1990). In the Northeast, the management goal (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996) is to restore woodcock populations to 1985 levels by the year 2005. Conservation and management of woodcock habitat are critical to achieving these population objectives. Habitat management that promotes early successional forest types increases local breeding populations of woodcock and other wildlife. Crucial to this effort is encouraging commercial timber companies to incorporate woodcock habitat management into their timber-management activities and to inform private landowners of potential habitat-management opportunities on their lands. In addition, identification and management of woodcock wintering habitat are also necessary. Most importantly, cooperation in habitat management among state, federal and nongovernment organizations, and private citizens will be necessary to reverse the downward trends of the woodcock population.

Although available data do not indicate that hunting has played a major role in woodcock population declines, proper management requires that we understand the relationship among hunting regulations, harvest, and woodcock populations, especially at the local level (Straw et al. 1994). Implementation of the Harvest Information Program will be the first step in determining this relationship. Research into the effects of hunting on local and regional populations is also necessary, but few studies are under way on woodcock in the Northeast. Likewise, research is needed to address the potential effects of new pesticides on woodcock, their habitat, and earthworms; such research has not been done for 15 years.

2008-12-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

AMERICAN WOODCOCK ORGANIZATION

January, 2007 the American Woodcock Organization was born to unite land owners, scientist, individual and corporate sponsors, county, state, federal and international government to protect and insure that the American Woodcock would flourish for generations to come.

The purpose of this organization is to improve the habitat of the American Woodcock in order to restore and maintain the American Woodcock to its historic population. As a non-profit organization there will be web access without charge, so as to not limit any who may wish to discover the plight of this diminutive migratory upland game bird.

Accomplishing this monumental task will require the financial resources of concerned individual and corporate philanthropic benefactors, the expertise of the scientific research community, the leadership of county, state, national and international government, and the public influence of a myriad of volunteers to instruct and lead all who are committed to the purpose of the preservation of the American Woodcock.

Please view the website at www.americanwoodcock.org

AMERICAN WOODCOCK ORGANIZATION

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