American Woodcock Fall Migration Using Central Region Band‐Recovery and Wing‐Collection Survey Data

Abstract

Band‐recovery and wing‐collection survey data have the potential to provide information on American woodcock (Scolopax minor) fall migration ecology in the Central Region of the United States, yet researchers have not recently analyzed these extensive data sets. We analyzed all direct recoveries of woodcock banded in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, USA, as well as wing‐collection survey data, to determine the progression of fall migration, the migration direction, and the final destination of woodcock migrating from these states. We did not observe migration initiation based on band recoveries until late October and early November, with most migration occurring during November. Wing‐receipt data showed a similar trend, with most change in mean receipt latitude occurring from 1 November to 5 December. During November, wing receipts were spread through the entire Central Region. By 15–31 December, 92% (n = 26) of band recoveries were on the wintering grounds (south of latitude 33°N). Most banded woodcock from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin wintered in Louisiana, USA. Woodcock banded in these states will be exposed to harvest for most of the hunting season because they remain in these states through November. If the population status of local birds is a concern, managers should consider this migration pattern when setting season dates.

American woodcock migratory connectivity as indicated by hydrogen isotopes

“…Some woodcock arrive on wintering grounds in October, whereas winter abundances usually peak in mid‐December (Roberts ) and the northern limit of wintering habitat is variable among and within years (Roberts ), suggesting that woodcock use a range of fall migration strategies. Mixing during migration or winter may confound the north‐to‐south progression of autumn departure based on latitude (Myatt and Krementz , Meunier et al ) and would explain why the linear regression of encounter and banding location latitude of 341 pre‐season‐banded and winter‐encountered juvenile woodcock does not provide evidence of a leapfrog migration strategy. Furthermore, limited departure data and band recoveries (only ∼200 recovered from 1939 to 2010) from Canada make it difficult to examine migration strategies used by woodcock in the most northerly portions of their range.…”

“…For example, individuals with natal origins in mid‐latitudes would exhibit a more facultative migration strategy within the migration continuum by traveling cumulatively shorter distances between natal and winter locales. Conversely, woodcocks with natal origins in the northernmost portions of the breeding range would exhibit a longer distance, more obligate leapfrog migration, in which those individuals would winter in the southernmost regions of their winter range (Myatt and Krementz ). The latter phenomenon is not unprecedented in other shorebirds, and has been frequently documented (Boland , Piersma et al , Johnson et al , Minias et al , Duijns et al ).…”

Fall Migration and Habitat Use of American Woodcock in the Central United States

“…Woodcock initiate fall migration in the Central Region in late October and early November (Keppie andWhiting 1994, Myatt andKrementz 2007). The northern extent of winter distribution of woodcock has been reported from northern Louisiana (Owen 1977) to as far north as Missouri, USA (Straw et al 1994).…”

Nocturnal field use by fall migrating American woodcock in the Delta of Arkansas

“…Myatt and Krementz ). Finally, Myatt and Krementz () tracked autumn migrating radio‐marked woodcock from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and found that of 33 marked woodcock located, only a single bird of was found in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Based on their findings, Myatt and Krementz () proposed that woodcock avoid the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley and instead migrate around it along the bluffs of the Valley (see Fig.…”

“…2 Myatt and Krementz 2007b). Finally, Myatt and Krementz (2007a) tracked autumn migrating radio-marked woodcock from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and found that of 33 marked woodcock located, only a single bird of was found in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.…”