Woodcock Walk April 7, 2011

The woodcock has picked up many different names over the years, including "timberdoodle" and "Labrador Twister" for its seemingly odd courtship behavior. This inland shorebird, known to frequent freshwater wetlands, acts out its annual ritual on the grounds of the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary. The male calls out from the ground, flies up into the sky and then comes spiraling down, landing in his chosen displaying field area, repeating the process on and on into the early evening. While there, we'll seek the sights, sounds and smells of early spring. Registration is required. Call 781-837-9400 for details. See http://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=895-SS11SP1 for more information.