Woodcock observations

[Gary Laudermilch]

First, let me qualify my comments. I am not a woodcock hunter and only rarely do I shoot any, much preferring to concentrate on grouse. However, I find woodcock to be an intriguing bird. Except for winter I have them year round right outside my back door so I encounter them frequently. I also encounter quite a few while chasing grouse.

It is my thought that the birds and the cover they are in is very soil moisture dependent. There is a corner of my property that is a woodcock magnet, usually. If that cover is the slightest bit dryer than normal, no birds will be there even though the soil seems moist to me. Conversely, if it is too wet, i.e. a bit of standing water about, they will not be there. They are pretty darn fussy about where they like to feed. During those times they vacate their normal haunts they can be found in places where they are seldom found.

About 15 years ago I started seeing woodcock run. It surprised the heck out of me initially but now I've come to expect it. Your guess is as good as mine as to what triggered this change in behavior but I'm putting my money on a change in avian predator density. You fly, you die.

It is also my experience that resident birds tend to fly in the zig-zag, close to the ground style. Flight birds tend to tower more frequently. Familiarity of the locality/cover?

Take it for what it is worth, just my two cents. They are interesting little birds.