dynamics study by the West Virginia Department of Natural 
Resources. Under the original guidance of Game Biologist 
James M. Ruckel and biologists at the Migratory Bird 
Populations Station, a program was developed which includes 
(1) random selection of singing-ground survey routes through¬ 
out the State, (2) a Statewide wing-collection survey, and 
(3) intensive live trapping, banding, and hunting investiga¬ 
tions in a 50-square mile area called the Canaan Valley. These 
studies will provide information on (1) the distribution of 
woodcock breeding in West Virginia, (2) the effect of shooting 
mortality on woodcock, and (3) the relation between spring sing¬ 
ing-ground counts and actual breeding populations. 
Singing-ground study completed in Michigan During 1964, 
Michigan State University graduate student Gary E. Duke com¬ 
pleted a 2-year Bureau-sponsored study which he reported in 
a thesis entitled, "Study of the Reliability of Censuses of 
Singing Male Woodcock." He concluded that: (1) woodcock 
surveys can be most affected by the time during the breed¬ 
ing season when counts are made and by the hearing ability 
of the observer; (2) except when extreme, climatic conditions 
are not important in influencing the survey; (3) survey results 
are not lowered by counting "flight songs" as well as "peents;" 
(4) reliability of the survey is not altered significantly by 
the full moon period; (5) courtship activity is not seriously 
affected by the density of performing males or by the stage 
of the brood cycle. 
Pennsylvania publishes woodcock bulletin The Pennsylvania 
Game Commission recently released a 32-page bulletin entitled, 
"The American Woodcock in Pennsylvania," by Game Biologist 
Steve Liscinsky. This well written and illustrated publication 
includes chapters on reproduction, food and feeding behavior, 
movements and migration, habitat requirements, habitat manage¬ 
ment, and hunting. 
Maine studies homing tendency of male woodcock University 
of Maine student Allen H. Holmes began a study in the spring of 
1965 to determine the extent of homing by male woodcock during 
the breeding season. His initial results were not conclusive 
and it is expected that this study will be continued. 
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