Table 3 

Winter Census hours Birds per hour 
1946-7 10 (est.) + 
1947-8 20 1 
1948-9 8 5 
1949-50 ri 1 (approx. ) 
1950-51 1 1 (approx. ) 
Migration 
The first fall woodcock observations were made on the Red Dirt 
Game Management Preserve, Natchitoches Parish, La. On October 22, 
1950, Carmen Beasley (Refuge Manager) saw two birds on the Bayou L'lvorgne 
bottom. A single woodcock was observed by V. H. Reid on the Bayou Luce 
bottom on October 25, 1950. This observation was also made on the Red 
Dirt Game Management Preserve. 
In comparing the weekly figures for the winters 199-50 and 1950- 
51, Table 2 shows a woodcock point for ¢very .5 hours (30 minutes) 
during the week of January 1-7, 1950. A comparable count (1 point per 
.5 hours, Table 1) was made the week of January 1-20, 1951. This puts 
the principal woodcock influx in this territory for the winter of 1950- 
51, one week later than in the winter of 199-50. 
In this connection, the woodcock coverts at Alco, Louisiana were 
visited on the afternoon of January 14, 1951. Three woodcock were 
flushed. Very little woodcock signs (probings and droppings) were noted 
on this round. The same census round was made the following morning 
(January 15, 1951); 1) woodcock were tallied. Woodcock signs were 
numerous. Where probings and droppings were lacking on January 1), 
they were numerous on January 15, 1951. There had been a movement of 
birds into the Alco territory during the night. 
The census figures (Table 1) indicate another influx of birds in 
this territory during January 28 and February 3. During this period a 
bird was flushed for every .6 hour (36 minutes) spent afield. Table 2 
indicates a similar influx of birds between February 5-7, 1950, when a 
woodcock was tallied for every . hours (2 minutes) of censusing. These 
figures are indicative of a movement of birds into this territory about 
the same period for both years. 
Sex Ratio 
Thirty-seven wodcock were collected during the winter. Eighteen 
of the birds were males and 19 were females. 
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