Rhode Island Woodcock Initiative

Rhode Island Rhode Island Woodcock Woodcock InitiativeInitiative

American Woodcock Habitat American Woodcock Habitat Demonstration AreaDemonstration Area

Brian Tefft, RIDEM Fish and WildlifeBrian Tefft, RIDEM Fish and Wildlife

ObjectivesObjectives

Create Habitat Demonstration Area for Create Habitat Demonstration Area for American WoodcockAmerican Woodcock

Manage Early Successional Habitats for Manage Early Successional Habitats for Woodcock and other wildlife using BMP’sWoodcock and other wildlife using BMP’s

Monitor woodcock response to managementMonitor woodcock response to management Measure key habitat featuresMeasure key habitat features Measure use of habitats by avian speciesMeasure use of habitats by avian species Create educational materials for private Create educational materials for private

landowners landowners

Woodcock Management Woodcock Management

Habitat ManagementHabitat Management

Capture and BandingCapture and Banding

Mist net on singing Mist net on singing grounds April and grounds April and May 2008 May 2008

Applied transmitters Applied transmitters and leg bandsand leg bands

Obtained locations Obtained locations and monitored and monitored survivalsurvival

MonitoringMonitoring

Monitor woodcock 2-3 Monitor woodcock 2-3 times/week to obtain times/week to obtain locationlocation

Conducted singing Conducted singing ground countsground counts

Conducted avian point Conducted avian point countscounts

Document use by other Document use by other High Priority Avian High Priority Avian Species in BCR Species in BCR

Habitat MeasuresHabitat Measures

MeasuredMeasured Dominant forest Dominant forest

covercover Age classAge class Stem densityStem density Over-story densityOver-story density Earth worm biomass Earth worm biomass

ResultsResults

ResultsResults

TelemetryTelemetry Home range: MCPHome range: MCP Feeding coversFeeding covers Roosting fieldsRoosting fields Nesting coversNesting covers

Home RangesHome Ranges

Home Range 444Home Range 444

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Average Diurnal H.R. (MCP n=5) was Average Diurnal H.R. (MCP n=5) was 34.9 acres (14 ha)34.9 acres (14 ha)

302: MCP 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) 1 mile from roost 302: MCP 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) 1 mile from roost fields/singing groundsfields/singing grounds

444: MCP 4.9 acres (1.9 ha) 1.2 mile from 444: MCP 4.9 acres (1.9 ha) 1.2 mile from roost fields/singing groundsroost fields/singing grounds

422: MCP 17.2 acres (6.9 ha)422: MCP 17.2 acres (6.9 ha) 362: MCP .7 acres (.3 ha)362: MCP .7 acres (.3 ha) 462: MCP 149 acres (60 ha)*462: MCP 149 acres (60 ha)*

Habitat MeasurementsHabitat Measurements

Stem densityStem density

In HR: In HR:

Average: 95,125 stems/haAverage: 95,125 stems/ha

Range 71,250 – 116,500Range 71,250 – 116,500

Out HR:Out HR:

Average: 84,583 stems/haAverage: 84,583 stems/ha

Range: 41,667-210,000Range: 41,667-210,000


Dominant Forest Type Dominant Forest Type – Feeding Covers– Feeding Covers

Wetland Forest: 58%Wetland Forest: 58% Deciduous Upland Deciduous Upland

Forest: 25%Forest: 25% Mixed Upland Forest: Mixed Upland Forest:

9%9% Field: 4%Field: 4%


Overstory Density:Overstory Density:

In HR: 91% coverIn HR: 91% cover

Out HR: 75% coverOut HR: 75% cover


Forest Age Class of Forest Age Class of Day Feeding coversDay Feeding covers

Seedling: 3%Seedling: 3%

Sapling: 11%Sapling: 11%

Pole: 47%Pole: 47%

Mature: 32%Mature: 32%

Non-forest: 6%Non-forest: 6%

Earthworm BiomassEarthworm Biomass

Earthworm BiomassEarthworm Biomass

In HR: Ave total In HR: Ave total weight 44.5 g (129 weight 44.5 g (129 worms)worms)

Out HR: Ave total Out HR: Ave total weight 1.2 g (18 weight 1.2 g (18 worms)worms)

Avian Point CountsAvian Point Counts

39 total species 39 total species observedobserved

Blue-winged Warbler: Blue-winged Warbler: present @ 70% present @ 70% pointspoints

Eastern Towhee: Eastern Towhee: present @ 100% present @ 100% pointspoints

Cowbirds present @ Cowbirds present @ 90% points90% points

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Wildlife Management InstituteWildlife Management Institute Rhode Island Resource Conservation Rhode Island Resource Conservation

DistrictDistrict University of Rhode IslandUniversity of Rhode Island USFWS Federal Aid Project W-23R-52USFWS Federal Aid Project W-23R-52

Rhode Island Woodcock Initiative

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