US Fish & Wildlife Service
Date of this Version
2006
Citation
Kelley, J.R., Jr., and R. D. Rau. 2006. American woodcock population status, 2006. 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 Region in 2006 was unchanged from 2005; however, the Central Region experienced an 8% decline. There was no significant trend in woodcock heard in either the Eastern or Central Region during 1996-06. This represents the third consecutive year since 1992 that the 10-year trend estimate did not indicate a significant decline. There were longterm (1968-06) declines of 1.9% per year in the Eastern Region and 1.8% per year in the Central Region. The 2005 recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Eastern Region (1.6 immatures per adult female) was 17% lower than the 2004 index (2.0 immatures per adult female), and 1% lower than the long-term regional average. The 2005 recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Central Region (1.5 immatures per adult female) was 9% higher than the 2004 index (1.3 immatures per adult female), but was 9% below the long-term regional average. The preliminary 2005 recruitment index for eastern Canada was 2.2 immatures per adult female. The Harvest Information Program indicated that U.S. woodcock hunters in the Eastern Region spent 164,200 days afield and harvested 72,200 birds during the 2005-06 season. In the Central Region, U.S. hunters spent 356,100 days afield and harvested 225,000 woodcock. In Canada, 4,200 successful woodcock hunters harvested 28,500 birds during the 2005-06 season.