Monitoring of the wintering and breeding Woodcock populations in France

Abstract

France is an important wintering area for the Woodcock Scolopax rusticola in Europe but is also a breeding area. To manage this game species wisely we developed an integrated monitoring system for the breeding and wintering Woodcock populations in France, based on a census of roding males, the census of Woodcocks flushed and/or shot during hunting trips, a census of Woodcocks from targeted ringing sessions and other ringing data. The results show that the numbers of breeding and wintering Woodcock in France have remained stable over the last 12 years. To explain the population trends, additional information was gathered: survival rates, and an estimation of the size of hunting bags. A rough estimation of the annual breeding success was obtained through a wing collection from hunting bags. Case studies also improved our knowledge on the behavioural ecology of the Woodcock in winter. Finally, all data will be integrated into predictive models, classic models of population dynamics and behaviour-based models.