WILSON'S SNIPE BREEDING POPULATION STUDY AT 
GRAYS LAKE, IDAHO - 1952 
Thomas D. Burleigh 
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
This study, begun in 1951, was continued in 1952, the same pro- 
cedure being followed throughout. Gray was reached at noon on Ma 26, 
and the first count made that evening. In order that the results be 
as uniform as possible, the study was continued for eight days, the 
same period decided upon for the initial study made in 1951. Accord- 
ingly, up to and including June 2, a daily count was made of the breed- 
ing snipe population in the open marsh bordering Grays Lake. 
Previous inquiry had revealed the fact that the past winter at 
Gray had been characterized by a very heavy snowfall with an unusually 
high water content, this resulting in the marsh area surrounding the 
lake being flooded to a much later date than is usually the case. For 
this reason, the 1952 study was started at a later date than was 
originally planned, and this delay was found to be well justified. 
On my arrival at Gray on May 26, it was at once apparent that the 
water level of the lake was still abnormally high for this late date, 
there still being spots where the marsh was flooded to the edge of the 
highway paralleling the lake. On talking with the ranchers of this 
community, I learned that had I come a week earlier I would have found 
the water level considerably higher than it then was. It is customary 
each year for a certain amount of water to be drained from the lake for 
irrigation purposes, but this year this was not done until finally, with 
pastures under water and the future of the livestock industry seriously 
threatened, it was necessary to request that a certain amount of water 
be drained off to remedy this condition. This was done just a week 
before my arrival, but there is little question that the effect of this 
abnormally high water reduced materially the number of snipe breeding 
in this area. | 
Summarizing briefly, the following facts indicate a radically 
different breeding snipe population for 1952 than was recorded in 
1951. Regardless of the most favorable weather conditions, and of 
periods of maximum activity on the part of the "winnowing" males, the 
largest count on any one night was 10 birds on May 30. On most nights, 
the count varied between 5 and 8 males in the air at the established 
stations. Only 3 were heard between 7.40 and 8.50 (P.M.) on May 26. 
That night, although clear, was characterized by a cold blustery west 
wind. This was in striking contrast to 1951, when under optimum con- 
ditions twice this number were recorded at these same stations, with a 
maximum of 28 counted on May 21. That the high water was responsible 
for this reduction in numbers was a conclusion soon reached for breed- 
ing territories selected this year differed markedly from 1951. That 
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