Re: [Maine-birds] Woodcock

Yes, bug-spots have declined in many places although probably not missed by many. 2 years ago I commuted along route 220 between Waldoboro and Unity for 11 months. There were times when bug-spots were still a problem.

 By the way it is also a road where hundreds if not thousand of small frogs (and toads?) still die each year crossing the road. I saw my first (it crossed successfully) for the year on April 11th this year.  On a dry night no less.

Also, on 4/20 in S Liberty along 220, I saw a Turkey Vulture eating a roadkill skunk and a standoff between a Bald Eagle and crow over some unidentifiable bit of roadkill. 

Steve Plumb

On Apr 26, 2017, at 9:07 AM, Bruce Bartrug <bbartrug@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks, it's nice to hear others are hearing woodcock doing their mating dance.  However, it would take observations in the same area for 20 years or more to determine is there has been a local decline in it's numbers.  Added here is a comment on conservation status from Cornell.  It could be New England is seeing a resurgence of more mature forests instead of the "edge" and shrubby fields preferred by the woodcock for breeding.  However the comment about pesticides is of concern.  Thirty years ago in Maine, one would get bug-spots on one's windshield while driving.  When was the last time you had to clean a bug-spot?  Thanks again to respondents.