Woodcock Program At Audubon Center, April 9

SOUTHBURY — A rare opportunity to witness one of the most fascinating displays of courtship in the bird kingdom is being offered to the public on Sunday, April 9, at The Audubon Center at Bent of the River.

The American Woodcock, also known as the “timberdoodle,” performs a spectacular aerial mating dance that is seldom seen. The male woodcock lures his mate by flying to his singing grounds at sunset, making a short, high-pitched insectlike single note call (a loud, buzzy “bzeep” or “peent”) repeatedly for about five minutes.

He then flies in a low circle about 200 feet in diameter and begins to climb higher and higher, the diameter of the circle decreasing as he spirals up to a height of 200 to 300 feet in the air. His rapid wing beats create a musical sound as he climbs and at the apex of his flight he sings a variable series of liquid notes, then plummets down to earth, twittering as he descends.

After alighting at his initial takeoff point, he repeats his dramatic display. The entire courtship dance may last from 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the duration of twilight, but may continue throughout the night during periods of bright moonlight.

The Northeast serves as the woodcocks’ primary breeding grounds and the Audubon Center’s scrubland habitat brings the flocks in as early as February. The first woodcock was heard at the Center on February 2, but their primary breeding time is during March and April.

If the weather is good on April 9, finding one or two during their mating ritual, which takes place at sunset, is fairly reliable.

Call the Audubon Center at 264-5098 to sign up for the Woodcock Walk or send your email address to BentOfTheRiver@Audubon.org to be notified of the time and last minute cancellations. The size of the group will be limited, so sign up early reservations are strongly suggested.

Additional walks may be scheduled if the woodcocks continue to call and there is adequate interest.

Bent of the River is at 185 East Flat Hill Road in South Britain, about a half mile from Connecticut Route 172 off of I-84 Exit 14.