With a list of nicknames including timberdoodle, night partridge, big-eye, bogsucker, and mudbat you might guess that the American Woodcock is an unusual bird, and you’d be right. Join Mark Pensiero, local birder and president of STEM – Save the Environment of Moorestown - as we search for Woodcocks as they gather to perform one of the more unusual courting displays of any North American bird species. Woodcock court in the dim light of evening and dawn. While on the ground, the male repeats a nasal, buzzing call most often represented as peent. After peenting for a minute or so, the male takes off and flies upward until he is 100 to 300 feet in the air. He pauses and hovers in a circle for perhaps half a minute. Then he comes spiraling or zigzagging back down, singing a liquid, warbling pee chuck tee chuck chip chip chip chip. After landing on the ground, he resumes peenting. There is no guarantee we’ll see them, but the border between South Valley Woods and a forenamed school is a reliable spot to see them.
Sunset is 5:58 pm that evening, so we’ll meet around 6:15 pm at the South Valley School parking lot. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Date: Saturday, March 5, 2022
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Location: Meet at South Valley Parking Lot
All Ages Welcome - Please register so we know how many are attending.