ABSTRACT 
An index of the 1961 woodcock breeding 
population was obtained from a Singing Ground Survey 
conducted in 4 eastern Canadian Provinces and 19 eastern 
and central States. East of the Appalachians, 150 
routes run in both 1960 and 1961 were available for 
comparison. West of this range, 73 comparable routes 
were covered. 
The population index increased 10 per cent in 
the east and 8 per cent in the west. The overall increase 
in the two regions combined was 9 per cent. 
The mean difference in birds per route (1961 
minus 1960) was calculated for States with 10 or more 
comparable routes (Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, New 
Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania). The mean and 
standard error of the mean indicated that for all States, 
except New York, chance could have been responsible for 
the observed differences. In view of the many variables 
affecting the Singing Ground Survey, it was considered 
doubtful that any important change occurred in the status 
of the woodcock breeding population between 1960 and 1961. 
Factors affecting the reliability of the survey 
were discussed. 
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