Despite the freezing weather, numerous small water holes remained 
open in the wodlands. Sheltered spots in the rice fields thawed well 
during the day, and cattle kept some areas free of ice. At no time were 
‘these potential feeding areas so completely frozen up that woodcock were 
unable to probe. Preliminary examination of stomachs showed that worms 
and other subterranean foods were being taken. However the presence in 
these stomachs of adult insects, and the scarcity of probe holes and 
droppings in the feeding areas examined, suggest that woodcock may have 
done quite a bit of "dry feeding" during the emergency. 
Survival 
All birds seen in the Vermilion-Iberia section appeared to be 
active and in good condition. They were usually quite gentle at first, 
and would fly only a few yards from the dog so long as they did not see 
the observer. Once flushed by humans, however, they became quite evasive, 
and flew for long distances. No sick or disabled birds were seen in this 
section, with the exception of one bird that had a sharp twig run into 
the left pectoral muscle clear to the breast bone. This bird was not 
emaciated, although the injury was old. However, its behavior was any- 
thing but normal. 
, Reid reported that no dead woodcock were found in Vernon Parish, 
but cites evidence of some loss in body weight during the freeze. 
Professor Glasgow noted that some emaciated birds were found in south- 
eastern Louisiana, but in general the birds he handled in the course of 
banding work appeared to be weathering the freeze in good shape. He 
offered the interesting observation that "repeats" that were banded and 
retaken during the freeze showed no appreciable loss in weight since the 
time of their initial capture. 
We collected 10 woodcock from two points in Vermilion Parish on 
February 2 and Game Agent Lanier turned over to us 15 birds he had 
confiscated from illegal hunters in Iberia Parish on that date. Since 
this was the last day of the critical period, body weights of these 
‘birds should give a fair indication of the effects of the freeze. We 
found that 12 females averaged 167.5 grams, with a high of 203.2 gms. 
and a low of 142.7 gms. Glasgow reported that the average for 106 
females he examined during normal weather was 200.6 gms. Reid reported 
average normal female weights as 191.9 and 193.6 gms. for the past and 
current seasons respectively. 
Our average for 13 males from the Vermilion-Iberia section was 
128.6 gms. This compared with normal weights of 158.1 gms. (Glasgow, 
average of 83 males), and 155.1 and 158.5 gms. (Reid, averages for past 
and current. seasons). 
