
WOODCOCK SINGING GROUND COUNTS IN CANADA - 195) 
Re D. Harris 
Canadian Wildlife Service 
Counts of singing male woodcock were again carried out in 
Ontario, Quebec, New Brimswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. 
Cooperators in the survey included representatives of the Canadian 
Wildlife Service, the Wildlife Management Institute, Provincial Game 
Departments, Officers of the R. C. M. P. and volunteers. 
woodcock. survey methods have been changed slightly in areas of 
high woodcock density to conform with the methods used in the north- 
eastern United States. Unfortunately some areas formerly surveyed do 
not lend themselves to the new techniques in that the birds are too 
thinly and irregularly dispersed. Necessary use of two techniques makes 
reporting difficult. The new methods are so designed that the results 
can be treated statistically - an important factor where a large amount 
of data must be analyzed. With sufficient data changes can now be 
classified as significant or not. For comparison of data obtained by 
the two methods see Table l. 
Ontario 
The number of singing male woodcock counted in Ontario was down 
slightly from the number counted in 1953, and 21.2% less than the long- 
term average. Some new regions were reported from and comparable data 
are not available for these. 
New Brunswick 
In the Sackville, St. John, Moncton and Tabusintac regions, the 
count was down from that of 1953. The 195) change from the long-term 
average amounted to-26%. The new method used in the Fredericton region 
for the second year indicated a decrease of singing males of 2)%. 
Nova Scotia 
There was no change in numbers of woodcock counted in Nova Scotia 
this year compared to last year but the count was up 17% over the 
average. | 
Prince Edward Island 
An increase of 6.7% was shown in singing male woodcock over the 
long-term average. 
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