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

FWS Form: 3-156
Rev. XX/XX

OMB Control No. 1018-0019
Expiration Date: XX/XX/20XX

NORTH AMERICAN WOODCOCK SINGING GROUND SURVEY

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

SURVEY YEAR:

STATE OR PROVINCE

COUNTY

ROUTE NUMBER

CANADIAN WILDLIFE SERVICE
DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA K1A 0H3

DATE OF SURVEY
MONTH

/

/

DAY

YEAR

OBSERVER'S NAME (FIRST, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST)

PHONE

(

AGENCY

)

EMAIL
LAST YEAR'S OBSERVER(S)

OFFICIAL SUNSET

:

MAILING STREET
ADDRESS
CITY

PM

ROUTE NAME

CLEAR

1

1/4 OVERCAST

3
DID YOU ENTER RESULTS
THROUGH THE INTERNET?
YES
NO
STOP
1
#

1/2 OVERCAST

5

ODOMETER
Miles or 3 KM

TEMPERATURE
°F
°C

ADD 22 MIN
TO SUNSET
FOR
STARTING
TIME

35-39
40-49
50-59

> 3/4 OVERCAST - ADD 15 MIN
TIME
(CIVILIAN)

1

.

:

2

.

:

3

.

:

4

.

:

5

.

:

6

.

:

7

.

:

8

.

:

9

.

:

10

.

:

TOTAL STOPS

# HEARD
PEENTING

ACCEPTABLE STOPS

SUNSET TIMES FOR THIS ROUTE:

DATE

PROVINCIAL

5

FEDERAL

7

OTHER

60+

31
41
51

WIND
1
CALM

PRECIPITATION
0
NONE

2-4

2

GENTLE (1-3 mph)

1

MIST

5-9

3

LIGHT (4-7 mph)

3

SNOW, HVY RAIN

10-15

4

MODERATE (8-12 mph)

5

FOG

5

STRONG (> 12 mph)

7

LIGHT RAIN

60 16+

DISTURBANCE (SEE BACK)
NONE 0 LOW 1 MOD 3

HIGH 5

REMARKS

TOTAL WOODCOCK HEARD PEENTING:
FOR OFFICE
USE ONLY:

3

POSTAL CODE

3/4 OVERCAST

7

STATE

ST / PROV

SKY CONDITION
0

1

STATE OR PROVINCIAL
COORDINATOR
TOTAL WOODCOCK
ON ACC. STOPS

ROUTE STATUS

(See "Sky Condition" above to assist in calculating the start time.)

10-Apr 15-Apr 20-Apr 25-Apr 30-Apr 05-May 10-May 15-May 20-May

DAYLIGHT
SAVINGS TIME

Main Points to consider are listed below. Please read accompanying Background and 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 and 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 minutes. If unable to do so because of road conditions, contact your coordinator immediately.
(8) Don't conduct the survey if the temperature is below 40° F (5° C), in strong wind, or in heavy precipitation.
(9) Contact your state or provincial coordinator promptly if you are unable to run your route within the designated dates on the map.
(10) If your coordinator also wants you to enter data online, please do so at the following website: https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock.

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

RECORDING
COUNTS

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 temporary 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-temporary hazard" in the space for the stop
omitted. If the hazard is likely to be permanent note “no stop-permanent hazard” and contact your coordinator. 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.
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 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
NO
LO
MOD
HI

DISTURBANCE

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 do one of
the following: scan/upload to the FileShare link, scan/email to [email protected], fax to 301-497-5981, or mail original form to
Woodcock Surveys, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, 11510 American Holly Drive, Laurel, MD, 20708.
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.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. You can view and print the Singing-ground Survey results online at https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/reports-andpublications/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
https://databasin.org/maps/new#datasets=49f3cb92334b4f359fb01eb39e9920ec

MAY 1 – MAY 20

APRIL 25 – MAY 15
APRIL 20 – MAY 10
APRIL 15 – MAY 5

APRIL 10 – APRIL 30

NOTICES
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.
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: PRB (JAO/3W), Falls
Church, VA 22041-3803. Please do not send your completed form to this address.