singing ground?

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A sure sign that spring is on the way: when the birds get frisky. But their hormones often put them in harm's way.

American woodcocks are shy worm-eating birds that hide on the ground. They're short, chunky woodland sandpipers with enormously long bills for probing the mud. But despite the odd appearance, it's practically impossible to find one. Their camouflage is too perfect. The problem is: how do the male woodcocks find the females and vice-versa.

At this time of the year, at twilight, the males perform an elaborate display to draw attention to themselves. The display lasts about 20 minutes, and their stage is called a "singing ground." But if the female woodcocks can find them, so can predators. And even curious humans.

Last night, we led a group of Ijams visitors in search of a male woodcock at the 400-acre Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area. The trick is being in the right place at the right time. But where? Four hundred acres is a sizable search site.

Woodcocks like old clearings, former farmland that's becoming wooded once again. Ten years ago we discovered a nondescript singing ground, and for the tenth year in a row it proved to be spot on. At 6:54 p.m., with the sun vanquished below the horizon and darkness slipping into our location, we were hidden in the bushes, roughly fifteen feet from where the chunky ground-bird began its performance. "Peent. Peent. Peent. Peent."

Thanks to all. The annual Ijams' Woodcock Walk is my unofficial kickoff to spring. We'll do it again. Same time, same place next year.



Group in search of a singing ground.

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