Weights 
Weights and measurements were taken on all of the birds collected 
the past two winters. The female wodcock weights in 199-50 ranged 
from 140 to 220, averaging 191.9 grams; for the winter 1950-51 they 
ranged from 178 to 212, averaging 193.6 grams. Males ranged from 132 
to 180, averaging 155.1 grams in 199-50 and from 130 to 180, averaging 
158.5 grams in 1950-51. | 
Apparently woodcock average lighter while on their southern winter- 
ing grounds than while they are in the North judging from a comparison 
of the above weights with figures obtained by Mendall and Aldous ("The 
Ecology and Management of the American Woodcock," 1943). The weights 
of 80 males examined by Mendall and Aldous averaged 175.8 grams. The 
average weight for 111 females was 215 grams. Thus weights of males on 
the wintering grounds averaged 18.6 grams lighter, and females 22.2 grams 
lighter than birds weighed in the north. Two male woodcock collected 
after the storm weighed 125 and 1:6 grams. Thus, one of the birds col- 
lected after the storm was lighter than the lightest bird collected before 
the storm and the average weight of both birds was below the average weight 
of the males collected before the storm; this despite the fact that their 
linear measurements were greater than those of the lightest male collected 
before the storm. The information indicates that the two males were down 
in weight as a result of the subfreezing weather. 
Ice Storm of January 30-February 3, 1951 
In the Leesville vicinity, a heavy rain on January 29 was followed 
by subfreezing temperatures during the night. Rain, sleet and snow 
followed on January 30. This was followed by 4 consecutive days of 
subfreezing temperatures. The temperature went as low as 7 degrees above 
zero on the morning of February 2. The subfreezing weather abated on 
Sunday, February h, 1951. — | 
The ground was frozen and covered with ice and snow. Trees, shrubs 
and ground vegetation were covered with ice and snow. Small streams, 
branches and ponds were frozen over tightly. Larger streams and ponds 
remained open. . 
On February 2, 1951, 24 hours were spent with two dogs in working 
some small stream and branch bottoms for wodcock. No birds were found. 
This was done in the vicinity of Leesville, La. The ground was still. 
snow and ice-covered except for some of the south slope exposures. [In 
these situations the snow and ice were slowly melting. 
On February 3, 1951, 3 hours were spent with dogs in the woodcock 
coverts at Alco, La. The same round was made that was mentioned earlier 
in the report. On the January 15th census, 1) woodcock were found. On 
the February 3rd round, 10 birds were flushed. These figures yield about 
the same woodcock population for the area during the storm as before the 
storm. 
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