Woodcock Evening Walk - A Mystical Encounter

04/04/2023 - E. P. Sheehan, EAC member

On March 16, West Vincent Bird Town held their first American Woodcock Walk at Opalanie Park. The group of twenty-seven participants enjoyed the mystical auditory and visual experience of encountering the American Woodcock, most of them for the first time.

Also known as Timberdoodles, Labrador Twisters, Bog Suckers, Mud Bats, Hokumpokes, Little Russet Fellers, Timber Rockets or Night Partridges, these ground nesting migratory birds use their soft, 2.5-inch-long beak to probe the soil for worms. This earthworm diet makes them vulnerable to poisoning from heavy metals, such as mercury, lead and cadmium.

The males do not participate in the upbringing of the young. The nesting females feed the chicks for only about one week. The tiny woodcock chicks must become self-sufficient and start probing for food on their own, often when only three-four days old. During nesting season, it is especially important to be respectful of their space. If the Woodhen

senses danger, she will abandon the nest, even at the early stages of incubation.

The most auspicious time to see the remarkable Woodcock mating dance is just after sunset. Because Opalanie Park closes at sunset, the group received special permission to be in the park in the evening. They arrived well before sunset at a wooded wetland area considered the most likely spot for this one-of-a-kind rendezvous. After settling in, the group had the unique experience of being in the midst of a mesmerizing scene change from day to dusk to dark in the secluded forest habitat. While quietly waiting, the sun started to set, slowly making all aware that the day was coming to an end, while the gradual and tender decrease of light blanketed the meadow. The atmosphere triggered a most rejuvenating inhale of peace and calmness, sprinkled with sophisticated undertones of earthy and refreshing fragrances. All one could do was stop for a second...be in the moment....and become mesmerized by the gifts of life and life itself... Various birds had a short chatter (most likely they were also counting their blessings), then suddenly, almost synchronized with the next exhale, silence dominated the area. The dusk, accompanied by the softer nighttime nature sounds, transformed the event into an almost eerie, but soothing treat.

About twenty minutes later, there it was: the “peent”, the nasal, buzzy cry of the brown-mottled American Woodcock - first one, then another, and then a chorus of at least eight! Whether on the ground or in the air, these birds are quite the performers, delighting the observers with either their rocking dance on the ground or their aerial sky dancing, displayed at dawn or dusk.

The highlight and grand finale of the event was the moment when one of the Woodcocks flew just a few feet above our heads. Filled with gratitude, the group returned to the parking lot, then left the Opalanie Park, as more and more bright stars started to fill up the dark sky.

Read more about birds in our township, local area, and region on the West Vincent Bird Town Facebook page.