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Apology, woodcock & Hemlock Bluffs





First and apology for the double post the other day.  My company switched e-mail
servers over the weekend and I accidentally sent a second message when the first
one hadn't gone through (and then did).  I figured I could send out an "oops"
note, but then you would have received 3 e-mails from me, and would probably
start cursing the sight of my name.

Anyway, I walked behind the house last night to add American Woodcock to my year
list.  Normally they are quite vocal and active by this point in the season.
For only the second night ever (that I have tried) the birds did not display.
The first time was just before Christmas.  I am wondering if the frozen ground
has anything to do with the lack of activity.  The birds are still here, at
least some of them, as they can be seen flying to and fro in the lowland from
which they display, but no flight displays or pre-display "peenting" was noted.
I figure the little guys are having a time getting to the worms with the
"permafrost" but did not know if that would either a) induce the birds to go
somewhere else, or b) keep the birds from displaying until the source of food
improved.  Guesses, thoughts, and theories welcome!

Our own Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary was mentioned in the most recent
edition of Birders World (I'm not sure what month, it has a cardinal on the
cover).  There is an article on places to view wintering birds at feeding
stations.  Hemlock is mentioned as well as several other locations throughout
the country.

Have a great week, I'm off to north NJ for a few days... work not birding :-(

Best,
Steve Shultz
Cary, NC
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