INTRODUCTION 
The Singing Ground Survey is conducted each 
spring in States and Provinces where woodcock nest. The 
purpose of this survey is to obtain a measure of abundance, 
not to determine total population. The principle involved 
is to make observations as standardized as possible so 
that results obtained from all routes can be compared. 
Cooperators select the survey routes. Routes also are 
replaced from time to time. 
Routes are run by car during the evening period 
of woodcock singing. Male woodcock begin singing about 
10 to 30 minutes after sunset, depending on weather condi- 
tions. They perform on their singing grounds for about 35 
minutes. Counts are begun when singing begins and are 
terminated before singing ceases. The length of routes 
varies with population densities. Routes may be longer 
than 4 miles in areas of low woodcock population. Other 
routes located in areas of high concentration may be much 
shorter in length. The number of stops (listening points) 
also varies, depending on length of the route and on 
habitat. Stops are a minimum of 0.4 mile apart, are for 
2 minutes duration, and are made at the same place each 
year. The number of birds heard calling per route is the 
measure of abundance for that particular route. 
The Singing Ground Survey plays an important 
role in evaluating the status of the woodcock. Although 
much of the breeding range is inadequately sampled at the 
present time, singing ground counts provide valuable infor- 
‘tation concerning the status of the woodcock at the beginning 
of the nesting season. 
Prior to the 1959 hunting season, production 
data were available from only a very small part of the 
woodcock's range. Furthermore, little information is 
available on changes in population levels on the wintering 
ground. Even if adequate production and wintering ground 
data were available, the Singing Ground Survey would | 
continue to be necessary to provide information on popula- 
tion status for régulatory purposes, For example, only 
the Singing Ground Survey could detect a serious reduction 
in the woodcock population as the result of snow, ice and 
