American Woodcock, Larimer County

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Tom Wilberding

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Jan 26, 2015, 9:33:45 PM1/26/15

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Hello, birders,

Today, Monday, there were 12 of us birders at 12:30 pm, looking from the road in front of the ranger's house for the American Woodcock. Up and down the road we paced, looking down at the stream. Barb and I heard leaves rustling, probably just a mouse. After 40 minutes I had that sinking, dipped feeling, when suddenly keen-eyed Pat Baldridge of Windsor said those magical words, "I've got it!"

Soon we all saw the Woodcock, hiding in a tangle of sticks and vines on a steep bank, a few feet from the stream. We got a good look at him and he at us. After a few minutes he seemed to shrug his shoulders and started bobbing, perhaps to scare up a worm.

Aristotle thought certain birds hibernate. The Poorwill does, as observed in 1804 by Merriweather Lewis in North Dakota. This Woodcock seems to follow Aristotle's theory, as it disappears into the leaves "to take a long winter's nap," as Larry Griffin observed. (Actually, today felt more like summer, a sunny, glorious 70 degrees.)

What a strange bird, often a challenge to find. Hope it sticks around for as long as it enjoys Bobcat Ridge's worms and leaves, maybe for weeks to come.