WILSON'S SNIPE "WINNOWING" COUNTS IN EASTERN CANADA, 1953 
Victor E. F. Solman 
Canadian Wildlife Service 
Spring counts of winnowing male Wilson's snipe have been made in 
eastern Canada for several years in connection with somewhat similar — 
studies on woodcock. Sufficient information is not yet available con- 
cerning range of individual snipe or time of winnowing to plan such 
studies for maximum effectiveness. Information gathered in detailed 
studies in Newfoundland suggests that a part of the post-sunset win- 
nowing period is likely to be most useful as a population index. In- 
dividual winnowing snipe in the air may be heard for a distance of at 
least a half-mile under favorable conditions. 
Lacking any other easily determined, more reliable index, counts 
of winnowing male Wilson's snipe taken annually under comparable con- 
ditions, are considered to indicate trends in the snipe population in 
the areas concerned. 
Table 21 furnishes a summary of the 1953 information for compari- 
son with 1952 data, and with average conditions representing a number 
of years' records for identical areas. 
Table 21.--Total winnowing counts for eastern Canada 
1952 1953 Average 
Ontario 30 20 3767 
New Brunswick 22 2h; 21.3 
Prince Edward Island _ 98 12 _87.5 
Eastern Canada — 150 113, ss 48S 
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