

ah plication of these Findings to Management ols the Species. 
The possible significance and application of these findings | to 
management falls into three phases. 
1. Open fields frequented by woodcocks muend summer to feed 
on insects may well be an integral part of woodcock habitat. It is 
probable that any breeding habitat contains such fields since in all 
summer areas observed, the same openings were: used as singing grounds 
in the spring. Seal singing grounds on roads or very small 
openings would not be suitable as summer feeding grounds. 
2. By further molt and head study, it is hoped to develop a 
technique to separate age classes of woodcocks by wing or head 
examination in the fall. Although the bursa technique is valid, 
it is difficult to examine any quantity of specimens in one season. 
If aging by examination of wings or heads is possible, it would be 
relatively simple to collect good samples in all the breeding areas. 
Such a sample would serve as a valid index to cheeks our present 
inventory technique. 
3. In the local netting areas in the vicinity of Amherst, 
sufficient summer samples should be netted to give a hen-chick ratio 
which will serve as an index of annual productivity. This will be 
checked against the local inventory each spring as a further test of 
inventory technique. Area #2 offers an ideal experimental ground 
for this. All the singing grounds are known and are relatively 
accessible and concentrated. Spring trapping will be resumed in this 
area. ; 
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