Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia
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American Woodcock Scolopax minor
WINTER: Fairly common to Common Migrant arriving from early to late February. Eight local CBC records likely represent late migrants. See Remarks section.
SUMMER: Fairly Common Resident.
MIGRATION:
Spring: See Winter section. Nests with eggs are found as early as mid-March (Smith 1996). See Remarks section.
Fall: Uncommon Migrant from early September to early November. Late dates, five on 09 November 1968 at Salt Rock, Cabell Co., WV (WA); nine on 29 October 1953 at McClintic WMA (CO); one on 09 October 1970 at McClintic WMA (HS). See Remarks section for high counts.
REMARKS:
Arrival Data for Breeding Areas: Beech Fork State Park: 1988 to 2002: Range: 31 January to 20 February. Median Date: 11 February (MG, unpublished data). Wayne County (near Lavalette, WV): 1998 to 2008: Range: 07 February to 25 February (GR, unpublished data).
Singing Male Census (Koch 1971): McClintic WMA, Mason Co., WV (1967): abandoned bottomland (elevation, 186 m): 16 males/100 ha.
In Ohio, American Woodcock Singing-Ground Survey data (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) has shown a 6.4% population decrease per year for 1968 to 2001 (Ohio Division of Wildlife 2001).
Fall High Counts: 9 on 29 October 1953 at McClintic WMA (CO). 5 on 09 November 1968 at Salt Rock, Cabell Co., WV (WA).