By CONNIE MERTZ

March appears to be the month for mating. Any time spent outdoors would reveal this truth—particularly among the bird world. One of the most intriguing courtship rituals is that of the woodcock, or timberdoodle. I have both seen and heard this aerial display at Montour Preserve, and it’s worth viewing.

At dawn and again at dusk, the male sounds off a "peet-peet" call from his singing field. Then without warning, he ascends to the skies, perhaps 150 feet, looking only like a speck to the observer. He plummets to the exact spot where he started, falling like a leaf all the while making a sound created by the three outermost primary wing feathers and the wind whistling through his feathers. Once heard, it’s not difficult to identify it, for he does it over and over again.

Woodcock displays are commonly found in wet areas, like swamps or wetlands. The breeding season starts in March and can continue into May. The female woodcock is a single parent, and she selects the nesting site usually along the edges of small trees or shrubs. Four spotted brownish eggs complete a clutch, and both she and the eggs are very well camouflaged. In fact, I once observed a woodcock nesting and her colors blended in so well with the layer of brown leaves, it took me quite a while to see her outline while others were pointing to the nest.

Woodcocks aren’t as common as they once were because of habitat destruction. One of the best ways to create habitat is by clearcutting. From 1968 to 1997, woodcocks have declined by 52 percent in the eastern region, according to the Ruffed Grouse Society. For more information about woodcocks, contact the society at www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.