WOODCOCE CENSUS .STUDIES TH EASTERN. CANADA — 1949 
Victor BE. F, Solman 
Trande in woodcock populations ‘hava bean studied in sastsrn Canada for 
a number of yaare by comparing counts of occupied singing grounds in ths period 
April 15 to May 15 in the gems arses during successivs ysars, During 1949, date 
wers Becuisd for aresaa in Ontaric, Naw Brunswick and Frince Edward Island. 
The 1949 singing-greund counta wars mada by raliabls obaertesrs, including 
officsrs of the Dominion Wildlife Service, the Wildlifs Management Inatituts, 
Provincial Govarmment Geme Officers, mamdsrs of the Royal Canadian Mounted Polica, 
and interested private cltizens who cooperated on a voluntary baais. 
Qntaris 
A marked declins in numbers of woodceck on chack arsas was noted in ths 
Ottawa region. The numbsr racorded in the 1949 count was only 54 psarcent of. tha 
S-yoar ayerags. In the Kingston area, although comparable date for 1948 wars 
lacking observers reported that: “the apring. woodcock population is very low 
this ysar." The Toronto rogion and other check areas in Ontaria raported a 
elight increase. Ths number of singing mals birds trecordad in sll check areas 
in the Provinces was 72 in 1949 as compared with 67 in 1948. 
New Brunswick 
Counts of singing male birds.on ths chack arses in the Saint John Rivar 
Yallsy at Frederiloton and Saint.John showed a declins from 1948, whils in tha 
seastem part of tha Provines an increases waa noted, Tha totals for ths Saint 
John River Valley were 75 in 1949 and 109 in 1948, while ths totala for tha 
sastarn pottion of the Provines were 73 in 1949 and 68 1n 1948. In thras areas 
in ths Saint John River Valley whsrs tae 1949 counts totalled 40 birds, ths 
9-year average is 49.1 birds. The number of birds recordsd on all chack araaa 
in the Provines during 1949 was 11 pereent less than the 1948 figures. 
Prince Edward Talend 
In Prince Edward Island, three check areas reported incrsassa in numbers 
of woodeack ovat 1948, whila ons chsck arsa showsd «a slight decreas, Ths 
total for all check arsas it the Frovines waa 52 in 1949 and 45 in 1948. In 
thrss cheek areas, observations hava basen mads for nines conascutiys yaars. Ths 
G-=yaar arerags total for these chsck arsas ia 36.3 birds, while the 1949 total 
for tha sams chack areas is 41 birds. 
nae I 
