
WOODCOCK SINGING GROUND COUNTS IN THE CENTRAL-NORTHERN UNITED STATES-1955 
John We. Aldrich 
Ue S- Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, De Ce 
_ Another very gratifying increase in number of routes run for 
woodcock singing ground counts in the Central Northern States took 
place in 1955. The increase in routes in Michigan, Wisconsin, and 
Minnesota combined was from 4O in 1954 to 65 in 1955. This repre- 
sents increases in all three states, and is a substantial improvement 
in the coverage. It may be that Michigan with 52 routes now has a 
sufficient number to be a satisfactory sample of the breeding grounds 
of that state. This will not be known, however, until statistical 
analyses of the data have determined its variability in relation to 
various areas of woodcock density, Studies should now be conducted 
to determine what the existing routes do actually represent in terms 
of the over-all area in which woodcock breed and the varying 
densities of woodcock abundance in these areas, 
In Table 1, data obtained on all routes mm in 1955 haw been tabu- 
lated. Also in this table all data obtained on these same routes in 
195are presented for comparison if they were run in that year. 
In Table 2, comparative totals are given for data obtained in 
both 1954 and 1955 for all routes run in each year and for just those 
which were run in both years, It is noted that by comparing the totals 
for all routes run in each year there was a 19.7% decrease from 195), 
to 1955. However when totals for only routes run both years are 
compared the decrease was 17.5%. It would seem that the latter con- 
parison would give a more reliable idea of actual change in woodcock 
populations, at least in the areas represented, since they were repre- 
sentative of the same areas of woodcock breeding habitat. What relation 
these had to the total area of woodcock breeding habitat is not known 
however. Presumably the 65 routes run this year would be more repre- | 
sentative of the total woodcock breeding area than the much smaller 
number (30) run both years. But even this cannot be said with 
certainty without knowing what they actually do represent. It is hoped 
that cooperators will try to run exactly the same routes in successive 
years so that the maximum value can be obtained from the data and until 
the results can be analyzed for variability and it can be determined 
what they represent in terms of the over-all woodcock breeding area. 
Meanwhile we would like to encourage the establishment of new routes 
in areas not now represented at all, particularly in Wisconsin and 
Minnesota. 
Acknowledgment should be made to the various State Game Depart- 
ments and individuals listed in Table 1, who ran the routes,for excellent 
cooperation. Without their help, research of this sort, requiring a 
considerable amount of manpower distributed over wide areas, would 
not be possible. 
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