The NSFA has worked with farmers and industry for years to help conserve our local species at risk. Many iconic species associated with farmland are under threat, such as barn swallows, wood turtles, and bobolinks. However, additional species we might see on our farms, while not listed as threatened in Nova Scotia, are at risk in other regions. For example, the American Woodcock appears in Nova Scotia as part of its migration, and while it is not a species at risk here, it is listed as a species of concern in the United States.
In an effort to address the decline in American Woodcocks (Figure 1), the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative (woodcockmigration.org), an international collaborative project led by the University of Maine, partnered with dairy farm owners James (Sandy) and Emma Cole from Elderbank, Halifax County NS to study their migratory ecology.
Woodcocks require several different habitats to meet their breeding, nesting, feeding, and roosting needs. They spend most of their time on the ground and prefer fields and young growth forest. About the length of a robin, weighing much heavier between 115-300g, they use their long beak to hunt for earthworms in rich soils. Woodcocks arrive in Nova Scotia in the spring and make their return migratory crossings to the northeastern United States in November or early December, with some birds choosing to fly across the Gulf of Maine as they migrate south.
In October of 2024, the research team from University of Maine, led by Rachel Darling, caught 10 woodcocks, by nets, in the farm owner’s pasture. More were believed to be roosting in the area based on field observations. Each bird was carefully weighed, measured, sexed, and a small GPS tracking device was attached to the bird to study their migratory movements. The data will provide researchers information on how different individuals migrate at different times and relate that to what kind of habitat they were using on the ground.
By studying woodcock’s numerous habitat requirements, researchers can meet the needs of other species that require similar habitat types. The overlap in habitat needs can help manage wild pollinators, birds, bats, and insects that feed on crop pests, benefiting farmers.
Farmlands provide valuable habitats to a diverse range of species that can be used for shelter, breeding grounds, and sources of food. These habitats include wetlands, forage fields, pastures, hedgerows, and riparian areas. Farmers have a key role to play in protecting the natural environment and through collaborations like this, we can better understand techniques that promote biodiversity that benefit both farmers and the environment both within our borders and with our neighbours.
If you are interested in learning about how to increases or maintaining biodiversity on your farm, contact Environmental Farm Plan Coordinator at efp@nsfa-fane.ca. For more information on the research project, contact project led Rachel Darling at rachel.darling@maine.edu.
