Bring a flashlight and see the annual breeding spectacle of the American Woodcock , a.k.a. Timberdoodle, peenting at the Riethmiller Road grassland. This prairie is a reliable and excellent observation location.
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American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)(Nolan Williams)
Neltje Blanchan describes the sky dance:
In the early spring any one who takes an interest in the woodcock, aside from its flavor, will be repaid for one's tramp through the swale, at evening, to see the bird go through a series of aerial antics and attestations of affection to his inamorata. Standing with his bill pointing downward and his body inclined for-ward, he calls out pink, pink, as much as to say: "Now look, the performance is about to begin"; then suddenly he springs from the ground, flies around and around in circles, his short stiff wings whistling as he goes, higher, higher, faster, faster, and louder and louder, as he sweeps by overhead in erratic circles, each overlapping the other, until the end of the spiral described must be fully three hundred feet from the ground. Now, uttering a sharp whistle, down he comes, pitching, darting, and finally alighting very near the spot from which he set out. Pink, pink, he again calls, to make sure his efforts are not lost upon the object of his affection, and before he can fairly have recovered his breath, off he goes on another series of gyrations accompanied by wing music.
From The Bird Book by Neltje Blanchan,1897
This is an EVENING event starting at 7:30 PM.
It is March we are in Michigan, and the sun will be setting-so dress warmly.
Meet at DNR parking lot, north side of Riethmiller Rd., west of St. Jacob's church. NOTE: This is the parking lot in the prairie area, not the parking lot that is in the wooded area east of the church.
Google Map link
Email jacksonaudubon@gmail.com for more information.
Weather cancellation Policy:
JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.
