The most reliable source of population data for this species is the American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey, a species-specific survey that tracks the number of singing male woodcock at fixed routes each spring. This survey has demonstrated a steady, moderate decrease in the North American population of about 1% per year since it began in 1968; changes vary among Canadian provinces, from relatively stable in the small population in Manitoba, to moderate decreases elsewhere in Canada. The Singing Ground Survey data for 2017 do not indicate a significant declining 10-year trend (2008–2017) for woodcock in the Eastern Management Region after showing a decline in the previous year. The trend for the Central Management Region was not significant (Seamans and Rau 2017). However, the survey does not capture the northernmost portion of the range, nor a large portion of the southern range, and the use of singing rates as an index of population size may introduce a number of possible biases (Sauer and Bortner 1991). Despite these criticisms, it is unlikely that the survey grossly misrepresents the true population status. Despite the decline, the American Woodcock is at an acceptable level relative to its national population goal.
Additional information on: American Woodcock Singing-ground Survey
