Join us for an early spring evening, relaxing on a chair in a field! Al Sgroi, Acton Conservation Trust member and local birder, will be prepared with pictures and other information to guide us through the courtship ritual of the American Woodcock. The males display a series of peents, twitters, and chirps as they prance on the ground, then spiral rapidly upward, circle and drift down, whistling as they go. Since this is a “crepuscular” or twilight-active bird, we will meet at sunset to watch and listen for the incredible sky dance. No pets are allowed at this event, thank you!
Date: April 4, 2023 (sunset 7:15 pm) Rain Date: April 6, 2023 (sunset 7:18 pm)
Time: 7:00-8:00 pm
Please register here and the meeting location will be sent to you a few days before the event. The location will be in Acton or Boxborough, depending upon where woodcocks are active this year.
What to expect: Bring a flashlight or headlamp, a chair for sitting and your binoculars, if you have them. Come dressed for ticks and sprayed for mosquitos. Warm layers with sturdy shoes are advised, as we will be walking through a meadow with uneven ground. We will only be walking a short distance, then sitting while the sun sets and dusk falls.
For more information or questions, please contact Jody Harris at jharris.actonconservationtrust@gmail.com.
American Woodcock images from Al Sgroi shares pictures before the display begins
The Cornell Lab All About Birds website