year practically all the "winnowing" males were carrying on their er- 
ratic flight over stretches of marshy meadow bordering the lake. This 
second year, these areas were without exception largely under water at 
a time when nesting activities would be normally under way, and through 
necessity breeding territories were established in areas of marsh border- 
ing the few streams flowing into the lake or covering small isolated 
pockets at the foot of ridges. It was soon evident that all available 
nesting sites were being used by at least one, and not infrequently tw, 
pairs of snipe, but as these were relatively limited in number, the 
breeding population was noticeably smaller than in 195]. 
Another probable effect of the high water was the late date at 
which the various pairs, located during the daylight hours, were nest-~ 
ing. Plans for 1952 included finding one or more nests and getting 
much needed information on the actions of the male as incubation pro- 
gressed, and when the young left the nest, but it was soon apparent 
that this would have to be attempted another year. Little difficulty 
was experienced in flushing the birds in areas of marsh over which the 
male flew after dark, but almost without exception both birds would be 
seen, and their actions indicated that up to the time of my departure, 
few, if any birds, were incubating. In this connection it was of 
interest to note that other birds nesting in the marsh bordering Grays 
Lake were equally late this year. In 1951 for example, Long-billed 
Curlews had half-grown young by the latter part of May, whereas in 1952, 
no young were seen up to the first of June, and the females, apparently 
still incubating, were conspicuous by their absence. 
Since there has been some question as to the reliability of count- 
ing "winnowing" males as an index to breeding pairs, a careful study was 
made of this courtship flight. The area of marsh over which the male 
flew at night was carefully marked, and the following day both birds 
were sooner or later flushed from this area. Experience soon showed 
that the early morning hours were most favorable for finding snipe, 
both birds being active and often much in evidence (depending to some 
extent on weather conditions) until eight o'clock. After that hour, 
they became increasingly difficult to find, and from the middle of the 
morning until late afternoon (usually after six o'clock) were rarely 
seen. The practicability of half mile stations was also carefully 
checked, and again found to be the most reliable distance for a study 
of this kind. With care duplication could always be avoided, and it 
is felt that the counts made this year are as accurate as it is Bess 
sible to make them. 
5h 
