OHIO-BIRDS Archives

March 2009

OHIO-BIRDS@LISTSERV.MIAMIOH.EDU

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From:
Aaron Boone <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Aaron Boone <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:57:22 -0400
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Hi everyone,



You've probably noticed that American Woodcocks have arrived.  During the
first Ohio Breeding Atlas, woodcocks were detected in 35% of all blocks
surveyed, in every county except Logan and Monroe.  So far, data from the
second atlas show that woodcocks are missing from key regions, and increased
detections are needed.  With so many woodcock admirers in the field
experiencing spring courtship displays, now is the perfect time to add
woodcock to your blocks (or anywhere else you find them in Ohio) by
listening for their distinctive courtship displays.  Current OBBA2 data show
a peak in detection of courtship flights around March 25th and again in mid-
to late-April.  Or, if you're planning on doing owl surveys soon, please
consider being in your block around dusk (prior to owling) or dawn (after
owling) to record woodcocks.  If your blocks contain suitable habitat, your
chances are very good.



Peterjohn and Rice (first Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas) described American
Woodcocks as occupants of scrub/shrub successional habitats and the brushy
edges of woods and fields.  Suitable nesting areas vary in age from old
fields with scattered shrubs to young woods with several small openings.  In
Ohio, their nests have also been found in orchards, grassy fields with
planted pines, and even a cultivated field.  Recorded egg-dates area as
early as mid-March and fledgling woodcocks can be recorded (rarely) as early
as the first week of April. (Access the first OBBA2 species account for
woodcock at http://www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/pdfs/pdfselect.php)



Safe dates for American Woodcock begin April 10th, but the species doesn't
fit well within the atlas framework.  During the first Atlas, aerial
displays recorded before April 15th weren't included, probably because
woodcock are known to do courtship flights during northbound migration.
There is now uncertainty about this behavior and some evidence suggests that
males may mate with females and then migrate north to breed again (females
rear young on their own).  Because it is difficult to determine breeding
status of displaying woodcock, it is important to record all woodcocks seen
or heard in Ohio prior to safe dates (courtship flights should be coded as
"CC").  This will allow us to make decisions later, hopefully after more is
known about displaying male woodcock in early spring.



The bottom line:  Please contribute all displaying woodcock observations to
the Atlas, even if they occur in late-February to early April!   If you
observe birds in March, you may want to check for them again after April
10th to see if they are still present.  To increase the value of your
woodcock observations before safe dates, consider plotting your observations
on the interactive block maps or by recording latitude and longitude of the
display sites.  A general description of the habitat in the notes section
might also be useful from our perspective.  As always, thanks for your
involvement and dedication to the Atlas!





Aaron Boone & Paul Rodewald

Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II

School of Environment & Natural Resources

The Ohio State University

210 Kottman Hall

2021 Coffey Road

Columbus, OH 43210-1085

614.247.6458 (office)

www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/




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