Summer Behavior of Immature Radio-Equipped Woodcock in Central Maine

Abstract

The behavior of 15 immature American woodcock (Philohela minor) was studied in central Maine during the summers of 1969 and 1970 using radiotelemetry. The monitored birds used a variety of nocturnal sites including old fields, bogs, powerlines, highway medians, woods roads, and forest clearings. Old fields were occupied more often than any other type of opening. Second growth-hardwoods, alders, hardwood-conifers, and conifers were utilized as diurnal cover. Diurnal locations of radioequipped woodcock averaged 15 m from major breaks in the forest canopy. Four birds were monitored continuously during the day and night to determine periods of activity. Although the birds were active throughout the day, very little activity was recorded after they moved to nocturnal sites. No apparent difference was found in the daily patterns of movement between immature male and female woodcock. Crepuscular movements between diurnal covers and nocturnal areas averaged 332 m. A composite summer range for the 15 woodcock during 183 woodcock-days was 1060 hectares. The data suggest that immature woodcock are quite mobile during the summer and utilize most of the forest openings occurring within 1-3 km of good nesting habitat. Most of these openings are also used for singing grounds by males in the spring. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 37(4):462-469 The behavior of immature (hatching-year) woodcock was investigated using radiotelemetry during September 1969, and from June to September 1970. The objectives of the study were to determine the summer movements of immature woodcock, and to investigate temporal patterns of behavior, such as feeding and resting, while in diurnal coverts and on nocturnal fields. These aspects of summer behavior are little known despite many previous studies (Pettingill 1936; Mendall and Aldous 1943; Sheldon 1961, 1967; Krohn 1970, 1971; Liscinsky 1972). Our appreciation is extended to the following for their aid in planning and implementing this study and reviewing this paper: H. L. Mendall, Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit; M. W. Coulter and S. D. Schemnitz, University of Maine; J. Peppard, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game; and W. B. Krohn, U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. We also express our thanks to the wildlife students at the University of Maine who helped with the field work and to J. W. Morgan for technical assistance. This study was supported by the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife through contract No. 14-160008-945A with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game and the Univer-