A few minutes ago on my farm in Sullivan I saw a woodcock engage in a
broken wing display in the manner of a killdeer. I had no idea that they
do this. The woodcock was sitting in the middle of a grassy logging road
and flushed just as one of my border collies was about to step on her. I
was perhaps four feet to the side. She flew a short distance into the
woods and then started the broken wing performance while she was making a
guttural vocalization I hadn’t hear before. The display definitely worked,
as my border collies, who normally ignore all woodcocks, were very
interested in her. I focused on getting the dogs out of the area and so
didn’t carefully check the spot she flushed from for eggs. I’ll try to go
back without my pups to investigate further.
Milton Trimitsis
Five Sigma Farm <fivesigmafarm.com>
Sullivan, NH
