Woodcock singing-ground counts and habitat changes in the northeastern United States

Thomas J. Dwyer; Daniel G. McAuley; Eric L. Derleth

doi:10.2307/3808612

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Woodcock singing-ground counts and habitat changes in the northeastern United States

Thomas J. Dwyer·Daniel G. McAuley·Eric L. Derleth

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Abstract

Aerial photography from the late 1960's and the late 1970's was used to study habitat changes along 78 American woodcock ( Scolopax minor ) singing-ground routes in 9 northeastern states. The most noticeable changes were declines in the amount of abandoned field, cropland, shrubland, and field/pasture. The amount of land in the urban/industrial type increased 33.4% from the late 1960's to the late 1970's. We examined relationships between the woodcock call-count index and habitat variables using multiple-regression techniques. The abundance of calling male woodcock was positively correlated with the amount of abandoned field and alder ( Alnus sp.) and negatively correlated with the amount of urban/industrial type. However, only the change in the urban/industrial type was significantly (P < 0.05) related to the change in the call-count index. Urban/industrial area increased, whereas the call-count index declined on average in our sample of routes by 1.4 birds/route (40.5%).

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Journal of Wildlife Management Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 37.91831° to 47.459686° latitude; -80.519345° to -66.986318° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Thomas J. Dwyer, Daniel G. McAuley, Eric L. Derleth. 1983. Woodcock singing-ground counts and habitat changes in the northeastern United States. https://doi.org/10.2307/3808612

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