US Fish & Wildlife Service

 

Date of this Version

2003

Citation

Kelley, J.R., Jr. 2003. American woodcock population status, 2003. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland. 20pp.

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 and Central Regions were unchanged from 2002 (P>0.1), although the point estimates of the trends were positive. Trends from the Singing-ground Survey during 1993-03 were –1.3 and –1.6% per year for the Eastern and Central regions, respectively (P<0.05). There were long-term (1968-03) declines (P<0.01) of 2.3% per year in the Eastern Region and 1.8% per year in the Central Region. The 2002 recruitment index for the Eastern Region (1.4 immatures per adult female) was the same as the 2001 index, but was 18% below the long-term regional average. The 2002 recruitment index for the Central Region (1.6 immatures per adult female) was 17% higher than the 2001 index (1.3 immatures per adult female), and was similar to the long-term regional average. The index of daily hunting success in the Eastern Region increased slightly from 1.8 woodcock per successful hunt in 2001 to 1.9 in 2002, but seasonal hunting success declined from 6.9 woodcock per successful hunter in 2001 to 6.6 in 2002. In the Central Region, the daily success index was 2.1 woodcock per successful hunt in 2001 and 2002; but seasonal hunting success increased from 10.0 woodcock per successful hunter in 2001 to 11.0 in 2002.

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