At the request of many birders, including some of those who attended the MOU Field Trip, Henderson Feathers will send an alert to those interested in viewing this spring event. Locally the Singing Meadows plays host to woodcock displays and when they begin we will send you an e-mail. If you would like notification just send an e-mail to dhagen@closingthegap.com and put "Woodcock" in the subject line. I will send you the Alert by return e-mail just as soon as the events begin. For those of you unfamiliar with the location of the "singing meadow", a small map will be included.

Last evening, March 28th, we visited two "Singing Meadows" which have been very productive in the past. We sat near the open grasslands from eight p.m. until the first stars appeared. Weather was almost perfect, about 30 degrees, no clouds until sunset. Clues in the past include deer moving about (they were); woodducks searching for hillside nests, (they weren't); and the first hatch of moths: (no sign of insects of any sort...yes we know that timberdoodles eat mostly earthworms, insect larvae and other). The timing and scenery were perfect, but nary a "twittering" or "peent." We will continue to monitor these spots and others until the "action" begins. In our opinion, we need a soaking rain and a few warmer days...coming soon. (We know that the males are in the area...spotted by the riverbottom springs...and other observers are on the alert! {This late spring ISN'T for the birds!!})

I keep looking at the number of people checking the individual postings on the website and I keep finding folks checking out the Woodcock Alert Posting. To all of you lurkers out there who haven't yet registered and would like to know what the status is, we sent this e-mail message to all Woodcock Alert folks this morning.

To all:

I fear this is not the WOODCOCK ALERT we hoped to be sending, but instead an update on the watch that will continue. As reported from the field on April 14th at 10:45 PM CDT, by Art and Barb Straub:

"Visited all three woodcock "Singing Meadows" tonight. Timing was perfect, 8:00 - 8:45; clear sky; relatively soft but chilly wind from southeast; deer moving (7); first quarter half moon; frogs ceased calling at 7:50; woodducks trading back and forth across valley; 3 sap moths per mile; NOTHING. NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING! Deer (doe and fawn set) walked right up to us, then, COYOTES began howling. Theories: has it been too cold? is the mating over? were the northward flights destroyed in the storms? We'll keep trying, onward and upward."

Thank you for your interest in the Woodcock displays, and Henderson Feathers. I wish we had better news but mother nature has a habit of doing things her own way, and she just hasn't told us her plans.

Thanks again.

Dolores Hagen
dhagen@closingthegap.com
HENDERSON FEATHERS
(507) 248-3824 - Home
(507) 248 3559 - Henderson Feathers

PS: Check out http://www.hendersonmn.com/ for complete information on sightings, movement, species present, etc., in words, photos and videos from the Minnesota River Valley and Henderson Feathers.