WOODCOCK BREEDING GROUND STUDIES IN THE CENTRAL NORTHERN STATES IN 1951 
John W. Aldrich 
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Very gratifying has been the response of woodcock. observers in the 
central northern states this year, the first time we have attempted a 
cooperative effort to obtain information on woodcock abundance there. 
Next year further efforts will be made to obtain increased coverage in 
that region and it is hoped that counts will be repeated on all the. 
routes followed this year, in addition to new routes. Counts made in 
Michigan were largely the result of the cooperation of the State Game 
Department. 
The accompanying table contains a summary of all of the counts from 
the central northern states, which will be satisfactory for use as a basis 
for comparison with results obtained next year, It should be emphasized 
that if these counts reported this year are to have any value they must 
be repeated next year under as nearly as possible comparable conditions so 
that they will be a true index to any change in status of woodeock. It will 
be noted that the numbers of singing grounds which were estimated from ob- 
servers reports have been converted into singing grounds per 10 miles, so 
that the numbers recorded on routes of various lengths will be comparable. 
The number of singing grounds per route were estimated as accurately 
as possible based on the best information we have on woodcock behavior on 
their singing grounds. On the basis of Sheldon's banding experiments (see 
his report) it is believed that reliable results require more than three 
trips several days apart. Also, it is now felt that in areas as far north 
as southern Michigan counts made in April are too early to obtain reliable 
results. Therefore, observers should try to start their first count no 
earlier than the first of May. 
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