Survival rates of American woodcock wintering along the Atlantic coast

Journal of Wildlife Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Because American woodcock (Scolopax minor) populations have been declining, we attached radio transmitters to woodcock at coastal plain sites to determine if survival during winter was involved in the decline. Sites were in Georgia (1982-84, 1989-92), South Carolina (1988-89), and Virginia (1991-92). Survival rates were not different between age or sex classes. Survival rates differed (P = 0.003) among years. Daily survival rates were lowest (P = 0.030, S = 0.987) during 1982-83 in Georgia and highest (P = 0.004, S = 0.999) during 1990-91 in Georgia than in the other years and locations combined (S = 0.996). We attributed all mortality to raptors and mammals. Compared with other periods of the year, winter was a time of low survival for woodcock. Lower survival rates were possibly a cause of population decline.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Survival rates of American woodcock wintering along the Atlantic coast
Series title Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume 58
Year Published 1994
Language English
Publisher Wildlife Society
Contributing office(s) Leetown Science Center
Description 9 p.
First page 147
Last page 155
Country United States
State Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia
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