Early spring is the time to enjoy the fascinating twilight mating displays of the American Woodcock (a.k.a Timberdoodle). Wookcocks have arrived in the region, and the weather forecast for Saturday is too good to pass up. Perhaps some theater-goers will need some fresh air by Saturday evening? This year’s trek will be at Forum Nature Area.
Meet at Forum Nature Area parking lot at 5:45 p.m. Sunset on the trip date is ~6:03 p.m. Total walking distance will be ~1 mile on flat gravel trails, and the trip will last about an hour. Contact trip leaders Eric and Joanna Reuter with any questions.
As described by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
American Woodcock spend most of their time hidden in fields and on the forest floor, where they probe for earthworms. They often rock back and forth while walking along the ground. On spring nights, males perform very conspicuous displays, giving a buzzy peent call, then launching into the air. Their erratic display flight includes a distinctive, twittering flight sound and ends with a steep dive back to the ground.