March 19, 1981 - Comic WoodcockSECTION TWO MARCH 19, 1981
WOODCOCK ON NEST - -So perfect is the woodcock's camouflage that
few are privileged to see it nesting. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
Comic Woodcock
As March creeps along each day, its
magic reveals a whole new array of
wonders. The spring peepers have already
started their nightly song. It's a song of
life, for its purpose is to lure the females to
the pond where mating will take place and
eventually the eggs for future generations
will be laid.
About this time there is another ritual of
courtship that we who live in the country
can witness. That is the fantasy aerial
flights and dives of the woodcock. These
plump little birds no bigger than a robin
with their big black eyes and oversize bills
spend endless hours after dusk and in the
early morning hours cavorting and dis-
playing for their lady fair on the ground
below.
I was first introduced to these comic
performers years ago in Manorville by one
of Long Island's great naturalists, Gilbert
Raynor. Having just bought a tape re-
corder, I wanted to try it out. So when he
called about hearing some interesting
eight sounds, I jumped at the opportunity
to join him in the back country of
Manorville.
Manorville then and to a great extent
still is pretty much back country as far as
Long Island goes. Being in the headwaters
of the Peconic River there are many wet
areas that make ideal territory for toads
and frogs of all sorts to breed and
congregate. This kind of area is also good
for woodcock, for they feed in the soft
ground that's typical marsh edge and
swamp. Their long bills with an extra soft
movable tip that enables them to feel
worms and insects deep down in the earth
gives them the special ability of working
an area no other bird invades.
We had driven along the narrow black -
topped roads until we came to a special
field that Gil had already picked out. We
then walked a short distance from the car
and listened. It was just about dusk and
there was that grand quietness that takes
over in the woods just about this time.
Lights, Camera, Action
It wasn't long before the show started. In
the glow of the evening we could just make
out the silhouette of a woodcock as it took
off from the ground nearby. Around and
around it spiralled until we lost it from
sight. Yet what seemed like seconds later
the sound came from above that was to tell
us the bird was tumbling down toward us.
For years people thought the sound was
made by the woodcock's voice mechanism
but later research found that the outer
primary feathers create this hard but
distinct sound. his
We found ourselves fascinated by
courtship display of dives and glides that
ended up back where he started. We could
see no other bird around but we knew the
female must be near at hand; all these
antics were for her alone.
On the ground he strutted about -- tail.
open -- wings drooped and bill tucked
under his breast. During this time he
continually uttered a low zeeip- zeeip - zeeip.
The reason we probably could not see the
female is that nature has given the
ultimate in natural camouflage to her as
well as to all birds that nest on the ground
in leaves and grass. Their delicate streak-
ings of black and brown blend them
perfectly with the area they're associated
with.
Not satisfied with his act, he repeatedly
flew up out of sight and continued his
aerobatic display followed by his courtship
dance on the ground. This strutting, flying
and calling is all part of the woodcock's act
that goes on until mating time.
Once over in the North Sea area we
found a family of young. It was remark-
able we saw them at all for in one moment
we saw movement and then nothing. Right
before our eyes they disappeared. Yet I
knew they were there somewhere within 10
or 12 feet. Look as I would, I couldn't find
them. So I called others over to help in the
search. We carefully combed the area and
only then on hands and knees under tight
scrutiny were we able to find two of them.
Their camouflage was incredible. Even
the bill looked like an old stick. I knew
there were more about but time just
wouldn't permit the careful searching of
the area it would take to find them. They
blended so well into the brown leaf mulch
that we just couldn't see them.
Big Feet, Bill, Eyes
They were awkward looking little
chicks; big feet with short legs, long bills
and two big bulging black eyes. The big
feet had been developed for walking on soft
mud and the long probing bill for detecting
worms and insects needed even at that
young age. It's interesting to note that
most birds gain their livelihood from
specific areas whether it's treetops, under
the bark of trees, under leaf mulch of the
forest floor or as the woodcock deep in the
mud.
Each has its own area that supplies its
food and has adapted special techniques
and physical characteristics to cope with
the endless search for food. This is why it
is so important to have a variety of
environments for wildlife. The woodcock
would starve in the dry hard areas baked
by the sun. It must have soft soil for its
probing bill.
Knowing this and understanding that
nature has adapted these specialists, we
should strive to make sure that our
heritage for wildlife has a variety of
environments to choose from whether it be
salt water marshes, fresh fr h streams all are
woods, meadows, ponds
important. Diversity and variety are the
key to survival.
PAULSTOUTENBURGH