US Fish & Wildlife Service
Date of this Version
7-1981
Citation
Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service (July 1981).
Abstract
Preface
The American woodcock holds a special place among birds of eastern North America. The woodcock’s unique courtship performance has made it a favorite of bird watchers. Also, its tendency to remain immobile or “freeze” in time of danger has made it a favorite of sportsmen who seek their quarry with highly trained pointing dogs.
For nearly five decades wildlife biologists have studied the life history of the woodcock and the factors affecting its welfare. The ultimate aim has been to insure that woodcock can be maintained in adequate numbers, in the face of increasing human demands on natural resources, and with decreasing wildlife habitat. From the biologists’ studies several important publications have resulted, especially in the northeastern states, which are in the heart of woodcock breeding range. These publications emphasized the biology of the bird and its environmental needs. They treated only in general terms the specific steps that the small landowner could take to enhance his property for woodcock by economically feasible methods. The present booklet is aimed at filling that gap. It is for the landowner who is not a biologist, but who wants to do something for woodcock on his or her own land. The authors are to be commended for a timely how-to-do-it presentation.
Contents
Introduction..............5
NATURAL HISTORY..............5
Spring Migration and Courtship..............6
Nesting..............6
Roosting..............7
Feeding..............7
Fall Migration..............7
Habitat Requirements..............8
Getting Started..............8
The Inventory..............8
Setting your Objectives..............10
Professional Help..............10
Managing Habitat..............11
How to Create and Keep Daytime Covers..............11
Creating Singing Grounds..............12
Places to Roost..............13
Management Examples..............15
Example 1: Management Plan for an Old Farm Using Aerial Photos..............15
Example 2: A More Intensive Plan for a Reverting Farm..............17
Example 3: A Management Plan for a Small Tract of Land..............21
Summary..............22
Suggested Readings..............22