Form 3-156 North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey - US Versi

OMB Control No. 1018-0019

Expires: 05/31/2018

NORTH AMERICAN WOODCOCK SINGING GROUND SURVEY

SURVEY YEAR

STATE OR PROVINCE

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
DIVISION OF MIGRATORY BIRD MANAGEMENT,
11510 AMERICAN HOLLY DR, LAUREL, MD, USA 20708-4002

COUNTY

ROUTE NUMBER

CANADIAN WILDLIFE SERVICE,
DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA K1A OH3
OBSERVER'S NAME (FIRST NAME, M.INITIAL, LAST NAME)

PHONE (

/

DATE OF SURVEY

/

MONTH DAY

AGENCY
1
STATE
3
PROV
5
FED
7
OTHER

)

E-MAIL:
LAST YEAR'S OBSERVER

OFFICIAL SUNSET
ROUTE NAME

MAILING

STREET

CITY

ADDRESS

STATE/PROVINCE

SKY CONDITION
PM

:

0

CLEAR

1

1/4 OVERCAST

3

1/2 OVERCAST

DID YOU ENTER RESULTS
THROUGH THE INTERNET ? 5
YES
NO
7

ADD 22 MIN.

°F

TO SUNSET

35-39

FOR STARTING
TIME

.

:

2

.

:

3

.

:

4

.

:

5

.

:

6

.

:

7

.

:

8

.

:

9

.

:

10

.

:

40-49
50-59

>3/4 OVERCAST-ADD 15 MIN.

1

ZIP CODE

TEMPERATURE

3/4 OVERCAST

STOP
ODOMETER READING TIME
MILES or 3 KM (Civilian)
NUMBER 1

YEAR

31
41
51
60

60+

NUMBER HEARD
PEENTING

WIND

PRECIPITATION

°C

1

CALM

0

NONE

2-4

2

GENTLE (1-3 mph)

1

MIST

5-9

3

LIGHT (4-7 mph)

3

SNOW, HEAVY RAIN

10-15

4

MODERATE (8-12mph) 5

FOG

16+

5

STRONG (>12mph)

LIGHTRAIN

DISTURBANCE(SEE BACK)

NO

LOW MOD

7

REMARKS

HI

TOTAL WOODCOCK HEARD PEENTING
FOR OFFICE
USE ONLY:

TOTAL STOPS

ACCEPTABLE STOPS

ROUTE STATUS

ON ACC. STOPS

SUNSET TIMES FOR THIS ROUTE:
DATE
TIME

TOTAL WOODCOCK

10 - Apr

15 - Apr

20 - Apr

(See “Sky Condition” above to assist in calculating the start time.)
25 - Apr

30 - Apr

05 - May

10-May

15 - May

20 - May

STATE/PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR :
Main Points to consider are listed below. Please read accompanying Background & Instructions document
(1) Review the Training Tool Presentation before you plan to conduct your survey, https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock/trainingtooldocs.htm
(2) Conduct survey within dates shown on map (see reverse or accompanying Background & Instructions document)
(3) If your survey date falls in between the suggested dates and times above, please interpolate accordingly. DO NOT ROUND UP OR DOWN.
(4) Make sure to start the survey at the correct time according to sky conditions
(5) Start location (stop 1) should be at 0.0 mi/km with each subsequent stop at 0.4 mi (0.6 km) intervals; finishing (stop 10) at 3.6 mi (5.4 km)
(6) Listen for exactly 2 minutes at each stop
(7) You must complete the entire survey within 38 min. If unable to do so due to road conditions, contact your coordinator immediately
(8) Don't conduct survey if temp is below 40°F (5°C), in strong wind, or in heavy precip
(9) Contact your state / provincial coordinator promptly if unable to run your route within the designated dates on map
(10)If your coordinator also wants you to enter data online, please do so at the following website: https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock

FORM 3-156
REV 12/14

AMERICAN WOODCOCK SINGING-GROUND SURVEY: BACKGROUND AND INSTRUCTIONS
The Singing-ground Survey provides an index to the relative size of the woodcock breeding population in North America. It is the most important source of data used to guide
federal, state and provincial woodcock programs. As part of their courtship behavior, male woodcock exhibit aerial and vocal displays each evening. They begin by giving calls
described as "peents" shortly after sunset. From habitat types called singing-grounds, birds alternately "peent" and make flight songs. New survey participants should become
thoroughly familiar with these woodcock sounds before running routes. Visit http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Woodcock/id for identification tips and to hear a
sound clip of a peenting woodcock.
Originally, survey routes were run in areas of prime habitat where woodcock were known to be present, but subsequent studies showed that these counts did not accurately
reflect overall woodcock densities. Consequently, new routes were selected randomly so that all habitat types would be surveyed and results would better reflect the status of
the overall woodcock population. A normal characteristic of such random surveys is that some routes will fall in unfavorable habitat, so do not become disheartened if you do
not hear birds on your route. Your results are still valuable.
Please follow the below instructions closely so that data from your route will be of maximum value. The quality of the survey depends on you.
OBSERVER

Survey protocol requires that whenever possible the same observer should run the same route each year. If it is known that a new observer will take
over next year, both observers (old and new) should run the survey together this year, if possible, to allow for one year of overlap. New observers
should complete the survey with the previous observer on the same day at the same time, however both should collect and submit data independently
(observers should ride together in the same car, but collect data on separate survey forms and not discuss what they hear or compare results). This
will ensure that the new observer learns survey procedures and local route conditions. Further, because observer data are used as covariables to
adjust for differences in observers’ ability to hear woodcock, and the approach used to calculate the 2 year population trend requires at least 2 nonzero counts by at least one observer, overlapping new with previous observers will ensure that route data qualifies for the 2 year comparison. If a year
of observer overlap is not possible, data collected by a new observer is still valuable and will still qualify for the long term trend analysis.

SURVEY DATES

See the survey map (below) to determine survey dates in your area. When spring weather is early or late, contact the North American Coordinator for
permission to conduct routes up to 5 days outside the survey period. We encourage cooperators to run survey routes early within their survey window.

CALCULATE
START TIME
USING LOCAL
SUNSET TIME
AND
SKY CONDITIONS

Correct timing is the key to valid data! Calculate the start time for your survey date using the provided local sunset times and the formula
below. Record the sunset time for the survey date on the survey form. If the sky is clear or up to and including 3/4 overcast, add 22 minutes to the
sunset time to determine the starting time. Or, add 15 minutes if the sky is more than 3/4 overcast. Example: If sunset = 8:30, and it is more than ¾
overcast, start at 8:45. If it is ¾ or less overcast, start at 8:52. If your judgment dictates variation from this timing, as in the case of deep valleys,
clearly explain under "Remarks." Do not use military time. If sunset times are not provided, consult
or the local media. (If you use an alternate or media sunset time source please write your
source on the survey form as your start time calculations will be verified accordingly).

PROCEDURE

Plan to arrive at stop 1 (the start = 0.0 mi/km) of your route at or shortly after local sunset. Using the Trip Odometer makes recording and data entry
much easier. When the start time approaches, shut off your vehicle's engine and step several feet away. At the start time, record the time on your
survey form and commence listening for woodcock. Listen for 2 minutes and record the number of different woodcock heard "peenting.” Then proceed
rapidly 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to stop 2 and repeat the procedure at each subsequent stop through stop 10 (3.6 mi/5.4km). If a bad traffic hazard prevents
stopping within 100 feet (.03 km) of the 0.4 mile (0.6 km) mark, proceed to the next stop and note "no stop-hazardous" in the space for the stop
omitted. Be sure to check the survey form's box that indicates if your odometer readings are in miles or kilometers. SGS routes must be completed in
the allotted time period (38 minutes). Therefore, begin listening for woodcock at stop 10 no later than 36 minutes after the time at stop 1. This ensures
that the survey is conducted during the peak activity period of "peenting" male woodcock. Survey procedures allow for 2 minutes of listening/recording
time at each stop, and an additional minute for travel time in between stops. If a traffic hazard prevents you from listening at a stop or completing the
survey route within the specified amount of time, please clearly explain the reason in the remarks column.

RECORDING
COUNTS

Only record the number of different "peenting" woodcock. Do not record birds you hear performing only the flight song, and do not record the number
of "peents" heard. When no birds are peenting, record "0" in the appropriate column. When disturbances at a particular stop make a count absolutely
impossible, note the type of disturbance and proceed to the next stop. Upon completion of the route, record the total number of birds heard.

DISTURBANCE

Disturbance
NO
LO
MOD
HI

Description
No appreciable effect on count.
Slightly affecting count.
Moderately affecting count.
Seriously affecting count.

Example
Occasional crow calling.
Distant tractor noise.
Intermittent traffic.
Heavy-continuous traffic.

THINGS TO AVOID

Do not run routes when the temperature is below 40° F (5°C), in heavy precipitation or strong wind.

NUMBER OF
TIMES
TO COUNT

Normally, conduct a route only once during the specified period. However, if weather or other factors cause invalid counts at five or more stops the
route should be rerun and data recollected on another evening.

REPORTING

Immediately after running your route, submit 1 copy of the survey form to your State Coordinator, keep 1 copy on file for your records, and scan/email
or mail the original form to: [email protected] or Woodcock Surveys, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory
Bird Management, 11510 American Holly Dr., Laurel, MD USA 20708-4002. Survey results should also be entered via the Internet at
https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock and survey forms must be received at the Laurel office no later than the day following your state’s survey
date window. Fax (301) 497-5981 or scan/email your form if necessary to meet this cut-off date, and then only mail the original form if requested.

Your cooperation in this important survey is greatly appreciated. You can view and print the Singing-ground Survey results online at https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveysand-data/reports-and-publications/population-status.php every August. You can also query and download Woodcock SGS route level data at
https://migbirdapps.fws.gov.
Recommended Period for Conducting Woodcock Singing-ground Survey

NOTICES

MAY 1 – MAY 20

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Authority: The information requested is authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703712).
Purpose: The contact information is requested in case verification is needed about submitted
observations of the North American Woodcock Singing Survey.
Routine Uses: The contact information may be used by the State Coordinator or staff from the
Division of Migratory Bird Management to verify the results from the survey. More information about
the routine uses may be found in the Systems of Records Notice, FWS-26 Migratory Bird Population
and Harvest Systems.
Disclosure: The contact information requested in this form is voluntary.

APRIL 25 – MAY 15
APRIL 20 – MAY 10

APRIL 15 – MAY 5

APRIL 10 – APRIL 30

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT
We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) in order
to estimate woodcock relative abundance and to respond to requests made under the Freedom of
Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974. Your response is voluntary. According to the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control
number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned Control No. 1018-0019.
ESTIMATED BURDEN STATEMENT
Public reporting for this collection of information varies with the convenient availability of the
requested information. The relevant burden to complete the survey averages 1.75 hours, including
reviewing instructions, map and training presentation, drive to and from the survey route, gather data
at survey stops, and complete and review the survey form. Direct comments regarding the burden
estimate or any other aspect of the form to the Service Information Clearance Officer, Fish and
Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC, Falls Church, VA
22041-3803. Please do not send your completed form to this address.