
WOODCCCKs CENSUS STUDIES IN NORTHEASTENN UNITED STATES - 195) 
Howard Le Mendall 
Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit 
The 1954 woodcock census data for the New England States and New 
York were compiled by the writer who again served as coordinator for 
the northeastern region, 
Changes in census techniques were initiated last year whereby a 
sample, rather than a complete count, was obtained on each census route. 
By this method the population index is taken as the number of woodcock 
per stop per route. The 1953 data could not be compared with previous 
figures, but permitted the establishment of a base for use in 195) and 
in succeeding years. 
An examination of the 1953 and 1954 data indicate that there has 
been no change whatsoever in the trend of the woodcock population of 
the northeast. In dealing with figures of the quantity that were avail- 
able, it is difficult to conceive that the totals could run as close as 
they did. A slight increase in Vermont was offset by a slight decrease 
in Massachusetts. In Maine, Connecticut, and New York, no significant 
change was apparent, while the New Hampshire data were based on a very 
small sample. 
The complete results of this year's studies are given in Table l. 
To permit comparison of individual areas the 1953 index figure is also 
listed for each census route which was covered in both years. 
An explanation should be made as to the coordinator's method of 
evaluating the various census reports. In past years only one final 
population figure per route had been given, i.e. what was considered as 
the probable population for a particular route on the basis of the 
several trips made. This year all stops and all birds are totaled for 
all of those censuses taken which were considered as containing normal 
data. This change in presenting the findings was made so that north- 
eastern results could be correlated with results obtained elsewhere. 
It was necessary to exercise a certain amount of judgment in con- 
sidering individual reports. Although a minimum of 3 census trips per 
route was requested, the number actually taken varied from 1 to 5. It 
was apparent that some cooperators made very early or very late checks 
as "test runs.'' Counts were not used by the coordinator if it appeared 
Likely that migration might still have been in progress, or if the 
season was so far advanced that courtship activity was noticeably 
declining, If two counts were made on successive nights, or with only 
one intervening night, one of these counts ordinarily was eliminated. 
Censuses made during the period of the full moon or under adverse 
weather conditions were likewise excluded. Reports based upon only one 
census count were not used. 
13 
