US Fish & Wildlife Service

 

Date of this Version

2005

Citation

Kelley, J.R., Jr., and R. D. Rau. 2005. American woodcock population status, 2005. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland. 15pp.

Abstract

Singing-ground Survey data indicated that the numbers of displaying American woodcock (Scolopax minor) in the Eastern and Central Regions in 2005 were unchanged from 2004. There was not a significant trend in woodcock heard on the Singing-ground Survey in either the Eastern or Central Region during 1995-05. This represents the second consecutive year since 1992 that the 10-year trend estimate for either region was not a significant decline. There were long-term (1968-05) declines of 2.0% per year in the Eastern Region and 1.8% per year in the Central Region. The 2004 recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Eastern Region (2.0 immatures per adult female) was 34% higher than the 2003 index (1.5 immatures per adult female), and 19% higher than the long-term regional average. The 2004 recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Central Region (1.3 immatures per adult female) was slightly lower than the 2003 index (1.4 immatures per adult female), and 17% below the long-term regional average. The preliminary 2004 recruitment index for eastern Canada was 2.8 immatures per adult female. The Harvest Information Program indicated that U.S. woodcock hunters in the Eastern Region spent 135,400 days afield and harvested 61,500 birds during the 2004-05 season. In the Central Region, U.S. hunters spent 366,100 days afield and harvested 234,800 woodcock. In Canada, 4,808 successful woodcock hunters harvested 33,493 birds during the 2004-05 season.

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