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woodcock



Last evening was probably the best woodcock watching I've experienced.  One
or more birds were in flight display continuously from 5:15 to the point I
went back inside at 5:40.  One little guy seems to have picked a spot to
display from on the little trail behind the house.  I have seen a bird in
this spot for three days in a row.  Quite a treat as last year I think we
only had birds peenting in sight once or twice.  Last night was great in
that I had birds in sight, either in the air or on the ground,  for the
majority of the time I was out, not a very common feat in woodcock
watching!

For anyone who has not had the pleasure to watch one of these aerial
displays I'll try to describe it:
First, the woodcock arrives on his selected "stamping ground".  After a few
preliminary "peent" calls he begins turning in circles issuing a nasal
"peent" call every few seconds.  At some predetermined (to the woodcock)
time, the bird leaps into the air making a dry rattling sound.  The rattle
only lasts a few seconds and is the first audible clue that a display has
started.  The bird soon starts flying in a broad upward spiral.  During
this phase the outer feathers on the wings are creating a "whistling" sound
unlike the initial rattle or the final warble.  The bird spirals us to a
fair height, many birds fly high enough that they are difficult to see.
When the "whistle" turns to a "warble" you know the bird has started to
descend.  The descent is rapid and steep as the bird plummets to earth in a
seemingly uncontrolled descent, singing all the while.  The birds wings are
set back and not flapped.  The birds erratic descent and harmonious warble
stop about 25-50 feet above the ground.  The bird appears like a duck
preparing to land as he is dumping speed and altitude to land softly near
the spot where he took off.   After another series of "peent" calls the
whole process repeats!  And some say the winter months are boring...

Hope your holiday weekend is safe and happy,
Steve Shultz
Cary, NC
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