Best Management Practices - Atlantic Coast

Best Management Practices for the Atlantic Coast are currently being developed.

A general prescription for managing habitat for woodcock follows.

Landscape Scale Goals

Woodcock thrive when the four different kinds of habitat that they need lie close to each other.

We can manage relatively small tracts for woodcock, if all of the habitat types are present -- or if those habitats exist on neighboring lands. In fact, creating habitat on relatively small private holdings is key to bringing the timberdoodle back: Just because a landowner doesn't own hundreds of acres doesn't mean he or she can't do a lot to benefit woodcock. (See the range of different-sized demonstration areas that exist in the Northern Forest.)

On a larger or landscape scale, the goal of habitat management is to create a mosaic of quality habitat capable of supporting 500 woodcock. Research by conservation biologists suggests that 500 individuals in a population will likely ensure that population's viability. Studies done in areas managed intensively for woodcock show that a unit of 500 to 1000 acres should support approximately 500 woodcock.

The table below shows woodcock population densities on the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in Maine; on the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Vermont; and in general habitat as evaluated through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's annual survey of male woodcock heard singing during the spring. The two areas with extensive habitat management, and the national singing ground survey are contrasted. The two areas where intensive habitat management has been conducted show the strongest woodcock populations.