
WILSON'S SNIPE WINTERING GROUND STUDIES, 195-55 
Chandler S. Robbins 
Ue Se Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland 
The investigations of the winter of 1954-55 included (1): The 
fourth annual mid-winter Abundance Index of the Wilson's Snipe con- 
ducted in 18 southern states; (2) an analysis of the annual Christmas 
Bird Counts from snipe areas; (3) testing random ground transects as 
a method of measuring snipe abundance on the wintering ground; and 
(4) testing the feasibility of making snipe counts by aerial transects. 
Wilson's Snipe Abundance Index 
Map 1 shows the distribution of this winter's counts, with approx- 
imate abundance expressed in terms of the number of snipe recorded per 
hour. If coverage of an area was made in part or in whole on foot, the 
foot coverage figure was taken for purposes of this map. If there was 
no foot coverage, boat coverage data (if any) were used. If all cover- 
age was by car, that figure was taken. 
Table 1, patterned after a similar table from last year, depicts 
the number of snipe per hour for each of the past two years in each 
state, based on foot coverage alone. The left half of the table in- 
cludes only those areas which were covered both years. The right half 
includes as well those areas which were visited one year but not the 
other, The figures on the left half, being from the same areas both 
years, would be expected to give a more reliable indication of relative 
population, though the total number of areas covered is considerably 
smaller. 
Many of the areas which were run for the first time in 195) were 
covered again in 1955, giving us 25 more areas with 2-year coverage than 
we had in 1954. In spite of this increase in coverage, results were 
quite variable, showing that even better participation will be required 
if we are to measure with any degree of accuracy the changes we hope to 
detect. Only four states are represented in Table 1 by more than five 
areas each. 
Although the figures indicate a decrease of approximately 30 . 
percent from 195 to 1955, this drop is due primarily to reductions in 
a few large concentration areas. Of the 150 areas where comments were 
given as to changes in abundance from the previous year, 45 showed an 
increase, 43 indicated a decrease, and 62 reported no change of more 
than 25 percent. 
In Louisiana, where the total count (snipe per hour) for 31 areas 
showed a decrease of 29 percent, the number of areas reporting decreases 
(U4) was only two greater than the number with increases (12). 
7 
