Goals and Objectives

• To improve woodcock feeding habitat by periodic rejuvenation of over mature alder cover;
• To establish temporary singing grounds which also serve as good brood and nesting habitat; and
• To establish a "spring singing" survey on project site.

The entire cover will be cut and replaced in ten years. The objective of this project is not only to rejuvenate the alder feeding cover, but also to provide temporary singing grounds, nesting and brood rearing areas for woodcock. Ruffed grouse, white tail deer, snowshoe hare and a variety of songbirds are species which also benefit from this rejuvenated habitat.

Activities
The Woodcock Conservation Society (WCS) will establish a spring Woodcock Singing Survey on the project site in May 2006. The survey will begin before the work planned for November 2006. This initial Spring Singing Survey will establish a baseline of the number of males present in May 2006 and, as the project continues, will reveal the presence of the increased numbers of woodcock. The Survey will continue for the duration of the Project and the results recorded and shared with the Canadian Wildlife Services (CWS) to assist them in their continuing woodcock preservation work.

The alder strip selection process will commence in early fall of 2006. The selected alder strips will be flagged for mowing in November 2006. In November 2006, when the alders are dormant, a brush mower will clear cut a series strips in the area of the over mature alder growth. The cutting procedure will result in one third of the project site being rejuvenated while leaving two thirds of the site intact with cover for woodcock use. In each five year segment, one third of the area will be cut. This will result, in ten years time, of a completely rejuvenated alder growth.

Specific Habitat Products/Results to be Supported by WHC's Contributions
This site will yield a rejuvenated habitat for woodcock and other species of 28 acres provided by the Landowners, Ledwidge Lumber Limited and the Province of Nova Scotia, Department of Natural Resources.

The singing grounds will offer more nesting areas for female woodcock. The females and young will stay and feed in the new cover. The newly cut areas will provide staging areas for the male woodcock's spring "sky dance." This will encourage a healthy increase in the woodcock population. The rich moist soils present in healthy alder cover will encourage other songbirds to use this habitat. As well, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse and white tailed deer benefit from rejuvenated alder growth.

Relevance to Habitat Planning, Decision Making and/or Management
In 1937, the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge near Calais, Maine was established. The refuge was established to develop, test and demonstrate woodcock management techniques. Today, work continues with the objective of developing woodcock habitat management methods to increase woodcock numbers.

The Ruffed Grouse Society of Canada established a Woodcock Habitat Enhancement Project in November 2003. This project is located at Pleasant Hills, Colchester County and involves rejuvenating old, over mature alder feeding cover.

The Woodcock Conservation Society (WCS) and Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund (NSHCF) in partnership established a Woodcock Habitat Enhancement Project at Princeport, Colchester County, in the fall of 2005. This project also involved rejuvenating old, over mature alder feeding cover and establishing temporary woodcock singing grounds. The initial project work was completed on December 1 and 2, 2005. This is the first project for the WCS in partnership with the NSHCF and the WCS has a plan to develop ten woodcock habitat enhancement projects during the next fifteen years.

The 2006 Enhancement Project will be established on privately owned lands. The WCS hopes this project leads to more conservation projects and more partnerships between private landowners, government and conservation organizations.

The WCS will establish a spring singing survey and record the numbers of male woodcock on the project singing grounds.

This project will provide increased habitat not only for woodcock but also for many other species of wildlife. The signage and publicity will encourage public access and increased awareness of the importance of proper habitat for protecting our wildlife.

Project Location
The project is comprised of two locations. The first location is owned by the Province of Nova Scotia, Department of Natural Resources, and is located on Highway 224 in Chaswood, Halifax County (see map 1). The second location is owned by Ledwidge Lumber Limited and is located on the Lake Egmont Road, off Highway 224, in Lake Egmont, Halifax County (see map 2). The properties are each fourteen acres in size and of a similar nature, consisting of old, over mature alder growth.

Project Contact
For more information on this project, please contact Robert Stewart, Chairman, Woodcock Conservation Society.