US Fish & Wildlife Service

 

Date of this Version

2000

Citation

Kelley, J.R., Jr. 2000. American woodcock population status, 2000. 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 decreased 11.0% (P<0.1) from 1999 levels. In the Central Region, there was a 10.4% increase in the number of woodcock heard displaying (P<0.1) compared to 1999 levels. Trends from the Singing-ground Survey during 1990-00 were negative (-3.5 and –3.1% per year for the Eastern and Central regions, respectively; P<0.01). There were long-term (1968-00) declines (P<0.01) of 2.3% per year in the Eastern Region and 1.6% per year in the Central Region. The 1999 recruitment index for the Eastern Region (1.1 immatures per adult female) was 35% below the long-term regional average; the recruitment index for the Central Region (1.2 immatures per adult female) was 29% below the long-term regional average. The index of daily hunting success in the Eastern Region increased from 1.9 woodcock per successful hunt in 1998 to 2.0 woodcock per successful hunt in 1999, and seasonal hunting success increased 3%, from 7.2 to 7.4 woodcock per successful hunter in 1998 and 1999, respectively. In the Central Region, the daily success index in 1999 was unchanged from the 1998 index (2.1 woodcock per successful hunt) but the seasonal success index decreased 11% from 11.3 to 10.0 woodcock per successful hunter.

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