No detailed data are offered here, but two general observations 
are of interest. On the younger aged plantations where there were 
acres of open potential woodcock singing grounds the breeding density 
was no heavier than in the older aged stands. Every available open-~ 
ing appeared to be used in the older stands. A second general observa-= 
tion is that the clean bottoms of coniferous stands over 20 years of 
age appear to be attractive resting places for woodcocks in hot weather. 
Predation 
It is possible an attack on a woodcock decoy is only a rough in- 
dicator of potential wodcock predators. The most persistent attacker 
was the crow. Several of the latter were caught or sprung traps late 
in the evening just before the singing period. A Cooper's Hawk and a 
Sharp-shinned Hawk were also captured with a woodcock decoy. ~ 
One bobcat sprang on a decoy but it seems doubtful this predator 
takes a heavy toll of birds. The bobcat population in Quabbin Reserva- 
tion is relatively high. Several were seen during the spring trapping. 
It should be easy for one of the cats to catch a singing male, but no 
instance of actual predation was found. One destroyed woodcock nest 
contained a freshly deposited bobcat scat offering circumstantial 
evidence that one of these mammals may have been the guilty predator. 
One woodcock was destroyed in a trap by a weasel. Its head was 
severed and there was a hole under the net frame made by the weasel. 
A Horned Owl was observed to dive on a singing male just as the 
latter flew. The owl narrowly missed capturing it. 
Relationship of Woodcock with two other Game Mammals.--It was of 
interest that a cottontail rabbit was observed feeding a few feet from 
a peenting male and neither seemed disturbed by the other's presence. 
On Prescott peninsula in Quabbin Reservation there is a high 
population of deer and many parts of the area are heavily over-browsed. 
It is possible that there may prove to be a relationship between deer 
and woodcocks in that the former may retard natural succession in the 
breeding areas and maintain favorable habitat for woodcocks longer than 
would occur elsewhere. | 
