Nature's Notebook

 Next Wednesday, April 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the Sharon Audubon Center hosts its annual woodcock watch. I’ve written about the springtime display of the American woodcock before, but it is such a special event of the season that it warrants returning to one more time.

 One surprising aspect of the woodcock’s “twilight dance†is that the display of its closest relative, the Eurasian woodcock, is nothing remotely like it. Eurasian woodcocks fly in a straight line between various points in their territory to make their breeding readiness known.
For those who have never witnessed the American woodcock’s display, it goes like this: As twilight deepens (and occasionally on moonlit nights), the male sets up shop in a suitable field, meadow, or other clearing that becomes his stage. The first act of his show is a scratchy call — a peent — given at intervals of a few seconds, while the bird turns slowly in a circle. 

 \After about a minute of peenting, the male bursts straight upward into flight, climbing higher and higher in a spiral, with his wings producing a mechanical whistling sound. (Male woodcocks have special sound-producing primary feathers on their wings.)

 At the apex of his climb, which can be up to 300 feet in the air, the male begins his descent, slow at first but then picking up speed, and as he spirals down he emits a rhythmic chirping call.  Finally, he plunges back to earth exactly where he started, and begins all over again.

 It is easy to hear woodcocks displaying, but it can be difficult to see them in the semi-darkness. With a little practice and a lot of patience, however, you can probably get the hang of it. It is well worth the effort to see one of nature’s most intriguing performances.

 It is not totally clear if each male woodcock is performing for a single hen or many. Most males are polygynous — that is, they mate with more than one female. But woodocks do not form classic “leks,†the word ornithologists give to communal display arenas where numerous males all display together, strutting their stuff for discriminating females. (Wild turkeys are a better example of a true “lekking†species, though the location of the males’ lek is a somewhat impromptu affair — wherever a female is waiting!) 

 Woodcocks are sometimes said to have “dispersed†or “exploded†leks, meaning that each male has a separate stage, often several hundred yards from his nearest  neighbor.

 The woodcock’s display continues through early May, but the best way to enjoy it is with the guidance of an Audubon expert. Don’t miss out!

 Fred Baumgarten is a naturalist and writer. He can be reached at  fredb58@sbcglobal.net . His blog is at thatbirdblog.blogspot.com. 
 

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete. It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
James H. Fox

SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

Keep ReadingShow less