American Woodcock Courtship Performances as Conservation Management Indicators

Christina L Kolbmann, Jeff F Kelly. University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States

The American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) is a shorebird turned gamebird that has experienced a steady population decline since the 1960’s. Even though behavioral studies on game species are often conducted through the lens of improving the human hunting experience or increasing fecundity, little is known about this species’ mate choice except that females assess males during courtship performances. A critical first component of establishing population rebound efforts is to understand what factors influence reproductive events. For woodcock, courtship performances involve aerial displays and two types of auditory signaling. My research investigates how the soundscape of breeding grounds influences courtship vigor by quantifying performance variation, audience effects, and anthropogenic disturbances. I use BirdNET and acoustic indices to describe courtship ground soundscapes, identify target species, and determine anthropogenic disturbance thresholds. In this symposium, I will talk about how my academic journey pushed me toward finding my passion for translating research on animal behavior into practical conservation management initiatives.�