In view of the variables involved at least six counts wuld seem 
advisable for all census runs. As shown above 3 runs between April 17 
and April 26 on a route in the central part of the wodcock's breeding 
range would have revealed half or less of the actual breeding population. 
In summary tentative recommendations would include: 
1. Six runs wherever possible including counts late in the breed- 
ing season. 
2. Whenever feasible have the same person census the same route. 
In the case of student groups the results from year to year are probably 
comparable. 
3. A careful study by trapping and marking (so individual birds 
could be recognized visually) all singing males on a particular census 
route which would be censused regularly throughout the spring. The 
trapping and marking program would be closely coordinated with the census 
runs. This would require the services of two men throughout the breeding 
season. 
l. A study of one individual resident male, keeping a complete 
record of his breeding activity from his arrival in late March until he 
ceases his singing in late May. This wuld ideally require a least 5 
nights a week and would help to gauge the reaction of one individual 
bird to weather conditions, and to determine if his breeding activity 
varied with any consistency. 
Annual Population Turnover 1950-51 based on Trapping Results 
The data provided by trapping on population turnover is admittedly 
meagre, but since it is believed to be the most complete on record it 
seems worth reporting in some detail. Two more seasons of continued 
trapping operations will yield far more complete information. 
‘In 1950, 81 adult miles were trapped at 76 sites. In 1951, 21 of 
these sites were not retrapped. Several were in scattered places in 
the state where cooperators had picked up birds by trapping the year 
before. The large majority were accessible only by a jeep which was not 
available this spring. One of the birds captured and banded in 1950 was 
quite badly injured and 2 others were held for purposes of photography 
and released elsewhere. Four woodcocks occupying sites where birds were 
captured a year ago were not captured this year. This mkes a total of 
28 birds which were not counted in the population turnover calculations. 
