Population Indexes 
Relative population levels were computed as the 
percentage change (+) in 1961 from 1960. For an individual 
State or Province the extent and direction of. this change 
is indicated by the difference in the average number of 
birds per route. Trends in population indexes on a 
regional basis are calculated by multiplying the average 
number of birds per route in each State or Province by the 
uncultivated land area in that State or Province. 
RESULTS 
| Table 1 shows the changes between 1960 and 1961 
in total woodcock recorded on survey routes, adjusted 
only for varying numbers of stops along the same route in 
the two years. Population trends are shown in Table 2, 
The population index increased 10 per cent in the 
Eastern Region between 1960 and 1961 and increased 8 per 
eent in the Western Region. The increase in the two 
regions combined was 9 per cent. 
The mean difference in birds per route (1961 
minus 1960) was calculated for the 6 States that had 10 
or more comparable routes. The means and standard errors 
of the mean were: Connecticut 0.1 + O.4, Maine 0.5 + 0.4, 
Michigan 0.7 + 0.6, New Hampshire -0.3 + 0.7, New York 
1.2 + 0.4, Pennsylvania 1.2 + 1.1. It is evident that 
except for New York, chance could have been responsible 
for the observed differences. 
It is clear that refinement of the Singing Ground 
Survey is necessary. The survey method should be further 
standardized. All important parts of the breeding range 
should be adequately represented in the survey. One of 
the most critical needs is an evaluation of the extent to 
which changes in counts on selected routes reflect actual 
changes in the breeding population. It is hoped that 
studies designed to solve these pressing problems will be 
initiated in the near future. 
