REPORT ON WOODCOCK INVESTIGATIONS IN MASSACHUSEITS - SPRING 1952 
William G, Sheldon 
Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit 
Since a paper on the progress of Massachusetts woodcock studies 
will be presented at the 18th North American Wildlife Conference in 
March, only a summary of the past spring's work is presented here, 
The methods of study followed were much the same as in 1950 and 
1951. A few new capture techniques were experimented with, ‘The com- 
-bination of a Unit trap, decoy and portable phonograph witha record- 
ing of a male's courtship performance gave promise as the most 
practical and effective method for capturing adult males, On an 
experimental basis, one man lured in three singing males in adjoining 
singing grounds during one evening. The recording device was trans-— 
ported on foot between singing grounds and can be easily carried by 
one man and set up in a few seconds. 
In addition to the trapping and banding, two concurrent special 
studies were conducted by graduate students. One census line was in- 
ventoried on 28 occasions, The performance of one individual male was 
recorded in detail during 45 evenings. These studies and the trapping 
were focused on census methods in an endeavor to evaluate current 
techniques and to suggest possible improvements. 
The number of birds captured, the percentage of returns, the 
promiscuous behavior of male birds, and additional evidence of the 
shifting of singing grounds, all virtually duplicated the results of 
1951. Results were consistent enough to suggest much of the behavior 
observed in former years is normal. 
It is suspected that the incubation period and the height of the 
hatch have some bearing on the performance of male birds. 
Few of the trapped birds are believed to be migrants, Most old 
birds reach their breeding grounds in the first wave of migrants 
arriving on the trapping grounds. © 
Irregularity of most phases of the males! courtship performance 
appears normal, although the actual time of the entire performance is 
fairly regular. 
Variations in weather did net appear to noticeably affect court- 
ship activities unless there were extreme conditions -- especially 
low temperatures. 
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