32274 



PART 2: OTHER. NIGRA TORY GAME BIRDS 



..Woodcock 



Evidence now available indicates' that maintainence of this fine game bird 

 in adequate numbers may be difficult until methods of managing it are better 

 known. . ....;'_ •,■••.. 



Checks on the. spring flight of -1942 resulted in 29 reports of increase,.., 

 67 of no change, and 30. of decrease. These figures could hardly be considered, 

 as indicating a favorable situation and the, same checks made during the south- 

 ward flight, produced 23 reports of increase, 53-,of -no change, and 30 of de- 

 crease. ..Obviously, the intervening breeding season had re suited, in little if 

 any improvement and the natural question is - "Why?" If .the 'answer were known 

 important steps probably could be taken for improvement in woodcock conserva- 

 tion. 



Biologist Smith in his report on the fall migration in the Mississippi . 

 Flyway cited statements .made to him that during October there had been a large 

 number of Woodcock at -the mouth, of the Illinois River. According to some re- • 

 ports an increase in their numbers also was -noted in Louisiana. 



On the permanent census area in -eastern .Main, personnel of the Maine Co- 

 operative Wildlife Research Unit made their sixth consecutive census, result- 

 ing in figure's thai . showed an increase of 24,2 percent. Forty one occupied 

 singing grounds we're found in 1942 as against 33 in 1941. .. , •. 



Biologist Peters devoted much attention to this bird in the three Mari- 

 time' Provinces. /He studied six notably good Woodcock areas in-New Brunswick, 

 two in Nova Scotia, and four In Prince Edward Island, All of these had?; been 

 examined by him in 1941 when he tabulated 152 singing males. In 1942 the-, 

 count was 184 indicating a gratifying increase that checked well with the re- 

 ports from the breeding grounds in Maine. ■-.;..; 



New York, on the other -hand recorded a conspicuous decrease as did also 

 Pennsylvania. ;•' Dr. Logan J, Bennett of the Pennsylvania Cooperative .Wildlife 

 Research Unit,- reporting on an area near State College, . where ;■ this species 

 has been studied each season since 1939, stated that the number of singing 

 males dropped from 45 in that year to 10 in 1942, In 1940 the number was 27, 

 and in 1941 it was 20, a progressive re.ce-ssion that could be considered only 

 as disquieting, • - ..,;- : ; ■ 



Wilson | s Snipe 



No additional reasons have been discovered ;f or the decline of the Wilson's 

 Snipe, This appears to be continuing despite the complete protection that 

 is now given this species by the-. Federal law. . . : - ■ . " 



