US Fish & Wildlife Service
Date of this Version
2001
Citation
Kelley, J.R., Jr. 2001. American woodcock population status, 2001. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland. 15pp.
Abstract
Singing-ground and Wing-collection surveys were conducted to assess the population status of the American woodcock (Scolopax minor). Singing-ground Survey data indicated that the number of displaying woodcock in the Eastern Region was unchanged (P>0.1) from 2000 levels, although the point estimate of the trend was negative. In the Central Region, there was a 12.9% decrease in the number of woodcock heard displaying (P<0.01) compared to 2000 levels. Trends from the Singing-ground Survey during 1991-01 were negative (-2.6 and –2.5% per year for the Eastern and Central regions, respectively; P<0.01). There were long-term (1968-01) declines (P<0.01) of 2.5% per year in the Eastern Region and 1.6% per year in the Central Region. The 2000 recruitment index for the Eastern Region (1.4 immatures per adult female) was 27% higher than the 1999 index, but was 18% below the long-term regional average. The 2000 recruitment index for the Central Region (1.2 immatures per adult female) was unchanged from the 1999 index, but was 29% below the long-term regional average. The index of daily hunting success in the Eastern Region decreased from 2.1 woodcock per successful hunt in 1999 to 2.0 woodcock per successful hunt in 2000, and seasonal hunting success decreased 10%, from 9.3 to 8.4 woodcock per successful hunter in 1999 and 2000, respectively. In the Central Region, the daily success index decreased 5% from 2.1 woodcock per successful hunt in 1999 to 2.0 in 2000; and seasonal hunting success decreased 2% from 10.6 to 10.4 woodcock per successful hunter.