Date: 04/12/2006

Number: 1

The woodcocks returned about 2 days ago & have been growing noisier and noisier! These shy chunky birds about the size of mourning doves are members of the Sandpiper family. They love moist brushy thickets. Ours patter about under the willow in the runoff pond splashing & making odd slurping sounds. They look like brown bowling pins with long beaks for sucking up worms & other prey. Their eyes are set quite close to the back of their heads. Their feather patterns resemble leaves. They make an odd sound with their wings as they dive thru the air, after dark it can be a little disconcerting. It sounds like a maniac giggling or a horse whickering, it can be soft or startlingly loud. Hearing it over and over all day, I've decided it has to have something to do with courtship. In England, wookcock is considered a game bird. They seem the most active & visible in the spring when they first arrive flying in high arcs overhead & splasing in any seep ponds or puddles.

Marne, MI

Latitude: 43.1 Longitude: -85.9

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