FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ON WINNOWING METHOD OF 
MEASURING WILSON!'S SNIPE POPULATIONS 
Chandler S. Robbins 
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Field studies were conducted during the period May 26 to June 16, 
1953 in the vicinity of Sackville in southeastern New Brunswick, for 
the purpose of obtaining additional information on the reliability of 
the transect method in measuring breeding populations. Three transects 
were laid out, coinciding in part or in whole with routes that have been 
used for several years by Wildlife Management Officer George F. Boyer 
of the Canadian Wildlife Service. Each transect was covered by car, 
with two-minute stops at each half-mile interval. The number of birds 
winnowing and the number of winnows heard from each bird were recorded 
for each minute. It also proved helpful to indicate the direction (in 
terms of clock hours, with "straight ahead" taken as 12) and approximate 
distance (near, medium and far) of each winnowing bird; in this way, 
any significant change in position during the two-minute period could 
be detected, and nearly all duplication with birds at the preceding and 
following stop could be recorded as such. Temperature, wind and sky con- . 
dition were recorded at the beginning and end of each transect, and 
notations of significant weather changes during the transects were also 
recorded. I wish to thank Dr, V. E. F. Solman, Chief Biologist, Canadian 
Wildlife Service, for suggestions in connection with these studies; and 
I am most especially grateful to Mr. Boyer for helping with the selection 
of study areas, for accompanying me on several transects and nest hunts, 
and for numerous other courtesies during the investigations. 
Areas Studied 
For purposes of future identification, the lecations of the transects 
and other study areas are given in detail. All localities except Cook~ 
ville may be found on Amherst (Nova Scotia-New Brunswick ) quadrangle of 
the National Topographic Series, Canada Department of Mines and Resources. 
Jolicure-Aulac transect: Start at road intersection 1-1/l miles 
southwest of Jolicure, Westmorland Co,, N. B.; southwest 1-1/ miles; 
east 3/h mile; south along west edge of Fort Cumberland Ridge until 0,2 
mile north of Highway No. 2 west of Aulac. Total, 5-1/2 miles, 12 stops. 
Cookville transect: Start 1/ mile southwest of Cookville; turn 
southeast at Cookville and proceed toward Midgic Station. Total, 3 miles, 
7 stops. 
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