and a little over 100 yards wide, planted to conifers. In addition, 
there is one large stand of alders, with some mixed growth, surrounded 
by very open land. 
Woodeocks performed in both areas and could be heard from one 
listening spot. Three different males were caught at one site before 
the end of March by a cooperator. These might have been migrants. How- 
ever, when Maxfield began work April 11, he captured three additional 
birds at the same site between April 11 and April 25. One of these 
three was later recaptured at the same site and one caught on April 11 
was seen at its capture site April 13. In addition, two other males 
were caught at closely adjoining singing sites. 
During 20 evenings of work between April 11 and May 20, birds 
heard peenting and flying varied from 1 t lh. On four evenings, no 
male was heard at the singing site where 6 had been captured, mrked 
and released. On at least six evenings when only 1 bird was peenting 
and flying normally, one or two additional birds were heard peenting, 
but not flying. These observations demonstrate again erratic behavior 
of singing males, shifting of singing grounds, and overlapping 
territories. 
In spite of the fact 8 birds were known to use the arez, current 
census techniques in most instances would have recorded 3 by tabulating 
those "peenting.'* It is believed this was the best estimate since three 
singing sites were within the sound of one spot. Other birds were 
probably either migrants or visitors from singing grounds from more 
distant areas, 
Annual Massachusetts Census 
. The details of the annual Massachusetts census are recorded else- 
where. Although a slight drop occurred in all the areas of census, it 
is believed this is misleading since vegetative changes are taking place 
rapidly in the Quabbin area, and it is probable the lower number of birds 
reflects the change of cover rather than a reduced population. 
Cape Cod 
Although no census was recorded, one observer reported hearing 8 
singing males along 2 miles of road near Chatham, Cape Cod. Breeding 
areas on the Cape may be limited, but it is suspected that breeding 
birds are more abundant there than heretofore reported in the literature. 
Predators 
A Great Horned Owl's nest in the study area was kept under observa- 
tion for a month. Three woodcocks were observed to be brought into the 
nest. Remains were only sufficient to identify one as male. Itis 
probable that singing males are vulnerable to this species of owl which 
hunts most actively during crepuscular hours when the woodcocks are 
performinge 
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