WILSON'S SNIPE "SINGING" COUNTS IN FASTERN CANADA - 1952 
Victor E. F. Solman 
Canadian Wildlife Service 
 $pring counts of singing male Wilson's snipe have been made in 
eastern Canada for several years in connection with somewhat similar 
counts of woodcock. Individual snipe range over a wider area than do 
woodcock and do not appear to have a fixed winging time or area to the 
same extent as wodcock. For these reasons reliable counts are diffi-e 
cult to secure. As in the case of woodcock, the relation between the 
number of singing male birds and the breeding population is not known. | 
Ontario 
The number of singing male birds recorded in 1952 was 26 compared 
to 7.5 in the same areas in 1951 and a several~year average of 41.9. 
Several observers reported that singing male snipe were much more wide- 
ly distributed than in former years though less numerous on the study 
areas. 
New Brunswick 
The limited data available suggest little change in the snipe 
population from 1951. 
Nova Scotia 
As in New Brunswick, limited data available suggest little change 
in the snipe population compared to 1951. 
Prince Edward Island 
The limited data available indicate a large increase in numbers of 
singing male snipe compared to 1951. The reported increase is about 
threefold. | 
- Newfoundland 
No comparative data are available from previous years, but the 
initial data secured from five sample areas indicate a substantial 
number of singing male snipe present in the areas selected for study. 
Summary 
Numbers of singing male Wilson's snipe in areas for which comparable 
data are available were 85 in 1952 compared to a several-year average of 
68.5 and a 1951 total of 66.5, as presented in Table 1. 
Tes 
