Reproduction Quality 2017

    Protocol retained since 2012

1 °. Observations of weather conditions from April to August.

   This year in 11 countries and 41 regions, that is to say all the sites or the Bécargos * (100) have reproduced in 6 years (see table).

2 °. Observation of the behavior of Bécargos during reproduction (this year thanks to the emissions of the nine English girls).

    Prenuptial migration

    Early and important departures at the end of February at the beginning of March, but prolonged stoppage of most of the migrating women before arriving on SR *, due to difficult conditions (frost and snow on SR).

Nonetheless, there is a tendency for arrivals on average 8 to 10 days in advance of recent years. It is a positive indicator for reproduction.

    May June

    These two months represent the critical period for nesting and hatching.

It took place under cool temperatures, average sunshine, but good humidity and little wind. This is especially true for the Arkhangelsk region and the Komi Republic (important breeding grounds). These conditions may have impacted the survival of the young.

These observations also apply to the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, but for them for several years it is almost normal.

Thanks to the behavior of English Bécargos observed thanks to their emissions (15 on average over the period), it seems that nesting and hatching kept on average 8 to 10 days in advance.

    July August

    These two months represent the secondary period.

Considering the behavior of the males it seems that the collapse ended at the beginning of July.

The soil moisture level remained favorable with, however, somewhat cool temperatures, average sunshine, but little wind. These conditions certainly allowed a good presence of the preys, very favorable for the rearing of the young, the moult and the reserves for the fall migration.

    Conclusion

  In the absence of dangerous phenomena for Woodcock, drought

(most dangerous) floods, severe thunderstorms, storms  ; if not a little too much freshness, a lack of sunshine and heterogeneity over Russia, Reproduction 2017  benefited from fairly good conditions, with a lot of prey available (essential).

The behavior of English Bécargos seems to confirm it with stable birds not moving from their breeding site.

A little better than in 2016, the quality of reproduction promises to be Fair or Fairly Good.

We will see how the Woodcock reacted, when reading the Age / Ratio hunting and banding at the end of the 2017/2018 season.

• Bécargos  : Woodcock equipped with Argos beacons.

• SR  : Reproduction sites.

   My Predictions for the 2017/2018 season

   For 4 years for fun I test the observations that I have  carried out during reproduction by making prognoses. So far it's not too bad.

    They take into account four parameters.

1 ° The evolution of the number of European breeders.

2 ° The quality of reproduction observed by the analysis of climatic conditions on all SRs, plus the behavior of English Bécargos during the breeding season.

3 ° Normal weather conditions during migration   autumnal and wintering  ; i.e. without excessive phenomena  (cold snap with prolonged frost as in 2017, abnormal softness).

4 ° The presumed quality of French biotopes for cantonment and wintering  ;

​

​

​

​

​

Taking into account the drought which is raging particularly in the south of the Loire, plus the strong hunting pressure for years, the departments concerned should have mediocre to bad attendance. Only well-directed winds can improve it a little.

I would like to point out that the European breeding population is on a downward trend (results of my research). It is not the values of the Hunting Abundance Index of the National Bécassiers Club, (which remains the reference), nor those of the Nocturnal Abundance Index at the ringing of the ONCFS that will make me change notice. Not reliable enough because of poor protocols.

                                                        Philippe Vignac  

                     september 2017