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Rhode Island Woodcock Initiative. American Woodcock Habitat Demonstration Area Brian Tefft, RIDEM Fish and Wildlife. Objectives. Create Habitat Demonstration Area for American Woodcock Manage Early Successional Habitats for Woodcock and other wildlife using BMP’s
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Rhode Island Woodcock Initiative American Woodcock Habitat Demonstration Area Brian Tefft, RIDEM Fish and Wildlife
Objectives • Create Habitat Demonstration Area for American Woodcock • Manage Early Successional Habitats for Woodcock and other wildlife using BMP’s • Monitor woodcock response to management • Measure key habitat features • Measure use of habitats by avian species • Create educational materials for private landowners
Capture and Banding • Mist net on singing grounds April and May 2008 • Applied transmitters and leg bands • Obtained locations and monitored survival
Monitoring • Monitor woodcock 2-3 times/week to obtain location • Conducted singing ground counts • Conducted avian point counts • Document use by other High Priority Avian Species in BCR
Habitat Measures Measured • Dominant forest cover • Age class • Stem density • Over-story density • Earth worm biomass
Results Telemetry • Home range: MCP • Feeding covers • Roosting fields • Nesting covers
Home Ranges Average Diurnal H.R. (MCP n=5) was 34.9 acres (14 ha) • 302: MCP 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) 1 mile from roost fields/singing grounds • 444: MCP 4.9 acres (1.9 ha) 1.2 mile from roost fields/singing grounds • 422: MCP 17.2 acres (6.9 ha) • 362: MCP .7 acres (.3 ha) • 462: MCP 149 acres (60 ha)*
Habitat Measurements • Stem density In HR: Average: 95,125 stems/ha Range 71,250 – 116,500 Out HR: Average: 84,583 stems/ha Range: 41,667-210,000
Habitat Measurements Dominant Forest Type – Feeding Covers • Wetland Forest: 58% • Deciduous Upland Forest: 25% • Mixed Upland Forest: 9% • Field: 4%
Habitat Measurements Overstory Density: • In HR: 91% cover • Out HR: 75% cover
Habitat Measurements • Forest Age Class of Day Feeding covers Seedling: 3% Sapling: 11% Pole: 47% Mature: 32% Non-forest: 6%
Earthworm Biomass • In HR: Ave total weight 44.5 g (129 worms) • Out HR: Ave total weight 1.2 g (18 worms)
Avian Point Counts • 39 total species observed • Blue-winged Warbler: present @ 70% points • Eastern Towhee: present @ 100% points • Cowbirds present @ 90% points
Acknowledgements • Wildlife Management Institute • Rhode Island Resource Conservation District • University of Rhode Island • USFWS Federal Aid Project W-23R-52