By Mike Roche

This time of year this writer finds his eyes searching the skies. About now, migrating birds are beginning to move and head north to find suitable habitat for nesting. Some travel great distances, like the arctic tern that can literally travel “pole to pole” and fly 55,000 miles in a year. Ducks and geese fly varying distances south in the fall, with some traveling thousands of miles, while others just go far enough to have open water.

Migration can change over time as we now have resident Canada geese, whereas most previously traveled south to the Chesapeake Bay to winter. Songbirds also have different southern destinations with many hummingbirds migrating to Central America and Mexico, while other species winter wherever they find the habitat they need to find food and build up energy reserves to return north to nest.

During my time as regional director for Ducks Unlimited from 1988 to 1992, waterfowl migration patterns were of great interest and DU invested a significant amount of the money raised (the DU goal was to spend 80 percent of the money raised on projects) doing habitat work that insured that the needs of migrating waterfowl in Canada, where a vast majority of North America’s waterfowl production takes place.

Projects might be the creation of water control devices for large farmers along the St. Lawrence River so that the water could be held for migrating waterfowl to rest and feed and then be drained for farmers to cultivate when waterfowl moved further north. Those memories of traveling across Eastern Canada and seeing millions of ducks and geese during April is forever etched in my mind.

These days, my favorite migrant is the American woodcock. This strange-looking, long-billed bird has evolved into a very unusual creature. With nicknames like timberdoodle, mudbat, bogsucker, night partridge and Labrador twister you can figure it is very much an anomaly. They are one of seven woodcock species worldwide but the only one found in North America. Most of their close relatives are shorebirds, but they have evolved from sandy beaches to uplands where they use their long, thin bills—which can be up to three inches long—to probe for earthworms, insects and seeds. The tip is flexible and can grasp food under the ground. The bill of a female is slightly longer than that of a male. The males vocalize during courtship with a distinctive “preent” call and females feign having a broken wing to lure predators away from the nest. Males are best known for the spectacular mating “sky dance” where they will fly as far as 300 feet straight up and then descend in a spiraling whirl, landing right back to the same spot, and then repeat.

Woodcock research has been ongoing for decades. The species has declined measurably since the 1960s. Most significant was the May snowstorm of 1986 which caught woodcocks on the nest and egg losses were severe. Compounding the impact was the fact that woodcock do not renest. The population never recovered and the continuing lack of key habitat such as overgrown fields and alder wetlands has been an issue. Over the past couple years, the miniaturization of electronic GPS units has allowed researchers to track woodcock migration and create a body of data which can be used in the efforts to understand this most interesting bird that calls much of New England home.

As you drive around, scan the skies for migrating waterfowl (but keep your eyes on the road!) and you will see ducks and geese. The male ducks are sporting their brightest feathers, called nuptial plumage, and are either resting or looking for local homes. Other signs of spring are also becoming more common, like turkeys gobbling. Toms are sounding off as they begin to jockey for positions of dominance and while the hens are presently “not interested,” in a month or so that will change.

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You can often notice weekly changes as both the waterfowl nesting and turkey activity changes and you should begin to see more whitetail deer as they are changing from winter habitat and diet as things begin to green up. They will also begin to gather in mowings and open fields for socialization. They sometimes look “ragged” as they are shedding the winter coat of more hollow hairs that provide insulation against the cold. The reddish summer coat will replace it. There are a lot of other spring animal activities, with none less welcome than a family of skunks taking up residence. Male songbirds are already singing as they try to establish claim of the best nesting areas and when insects begin hatching, the mating and egg-laying will commence. Spring is so interesting, and we all have it going on in our back yards!

My disappointment over not getting a Kansas turkey permit has not subsided and my research into hunting possibilities in nearby Missouri is not promising. In the midwest, there is not much public land and there is a lot of interest in it. Private land is off-limits without permission, and that is almost impossible to obtain. Often, you have to compete for access to the better public areas and need daily permits for access. Still trying though.

Bluebirds are coming daily, and we will see if they stick around to nest. The feeders right now are very busy with a lot of arrivals, like finches and the regulars—assorted woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, juncos, cardinals and bluejays. Ice fishing is unfortunately done for me as the dark ice is foreboding and dangerous. The first few forays looking for woodcock have not produced a find, but we are all getting needed exercise to work off the winter’s excess!

There are still some tickets left for the Mahar Fish’N Game Club Game Supper on March 9 at the Mahar Regional Cafeteria in Orange. You can contact club advisors Evelyn Cunha (ecunha@rcmahar.org or 413-221-5297) or middle school Fish’N Game advisor Billy Devine (wdevine@rcmahar.org or 508-667-0955) for tickets or to donate game or fish to the dinner.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the MaharFish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.