Agency Aids Ongoing Woodcock Research in Arkansas

[Cara J]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently awarded nearly $50,000 to biologists in Arkansas for an ongoing American woodcock (Scolopax minor) monitoring program. Since 2013, FWS has been working with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units in Arkansas and Minnesota to study the migration of the woodcock. In Arkansas, the unit is a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Management Institute, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and University of Arkansas. Joe Moore, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas, where the research unit is housed, will oversee the project. “I think it’s important that state wildlife biologists — migratory bird biologists — begin to appreciate the timing and the routes of birds moving through their states,” said TWS member David Krementz, leader of Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and professor of biological sciences at the University of Arkansas. “One of the big take home messages from this project is to do a better job of on the ground habitat management for woodcock during migration.” Once fairly common throughout the eastern and central portions of North America, woodcock are now a species of special conservation concern. According to FWS’ American Woodcock Population Status, [...]

 

Read more: http://wildlife.org/agency-aids-ongoing-woodcock-research-in-arkansas/