
THE WINTERING WOODCCCK POPULATION ON NOCTURNAL 
FEFDING SITES IN LOUISIANA I} 1955-56 
leslie L. Glasgow'?? 
Louisiana State University 
An investigation of the ecological conditions effecting the 
American woodcock on its wintering ground was continued in the vicin- 
ity of Eaton Rouge in 1955-56. Since data were gathered in the same 
manner as in previous years, it was possible to compare changes fron 
other years in the number of birds that were observed on nocturnal 
feeding sites during banding operations. 
Method 
For each nocturnal banding trip records were kept of the number 
of men per party, total time on nocturnal feeding sites of woodcock 
and total number of woodcock observed as well as other data. 
Discussion 
Cold weather, which extended to the Gulf States, occurred over 
nuch of the United States during November in 1955, thus woodcock 
were forced into Louisiana in fair numbers by mid-November. Since 
soil moisture was high, 1h woodcock were seen November 7 on nocturnal > 
feeding sites. Ground moisture remained high through December when 
a record number of 2120 woodcock were observed. However, a prolonged 
dry period occurred in January 1956 and as a result fewer woodcock 
were found. The weather remained cold through the latter part of 
January and the first half of February consequently many woodcock did 
not begin their northward migration until mid-February, fully three 
weeks later than on some years. Two hundred-thirty~seven birds were 
seen on February 8, 5) on February 9, and 3 on February 1h. After 
woodcock left the Baton Rouge area, cold weather through the Lake 
States in February and March probably delayed their arrival on the 
breeding ground. . 
As mmateaved in Table I, the number of woodcock observed per man 
hour was higher than in any ‘previous year and 41 per cent higher than 
the number seen in 1954-55. This high number was undoubtedly a result 
of the very favorable moisture conditions through most of the winter’ 
and the cold weather which prevailed at the beginning and again at the 
end of the season. In order to compensate for local shifts in the 
wintering population it would be highly desirable to extend the samp- 
ling to include a much larger area. 
(1) L.8.U. School of Forestry and Agricultural Experiment 
Station and | ildlife Devartment, Texas A & M. 
9 
