The hunting of the woodcock and its future.
Our analyzes on the 2019 fall migration.
FALL MIGRATION 2019
Reproduction 2019.
Before the fall migration departures, our observations of the weather conditions in the large breeding countries, confirmed by our Russian and Estonian correspondents, we have leads to prognosis for good reproduction with a high percentage of young suitable for migration.
Autumn migration from October to December 20, 2019.
After the severe drought this summer almost everywhere in France, the rain arrived at the end of October and lasted continuously until the end of December, beating the recorded precipitation records and causing significant flooding.
Results : High soil humidity with water everywhere.
Extreme mildness throughout the fall migration, with only rare days of small frosts, a lot of snow in the mountains which melted quickly.
This low pressure regime was constantly accompanied by southerly, southwesterly and westerly winds that were not very favorable to migration (especially for the coastal departments) with strong storms in December.
Despite these weather conditions, biotopes rich in humidity have been attractive enough for Woodcock to come in large numbers to France to winter, mainly on the coast from Normandy to Aquitaine.
This did not prevent poor to poor attendance in certain regions, in particular the Center, the Rhône valley and Paca.
It should be added that winter in Russia, especially in the regions around Moscow, is exceptionally mild, never recorded since it was measured.
Findings.
Migration was about a week late. We observe a high proportion of young people in the hunted territories, especially in the coastal departments with an Age / Ratio of over 85%. We can deduce that the 2019 reproduction was good to very good for the Woodcock. This also seems to be the case for all migratory birds.
In front of the dogs, Woodcock with fairly easy behavior, stomping a lot but finally letting themselves be blocked and making rather short discounts.
On average slight tendency to birds a little heavier than in recent seasons. It should be noted that the Sex / Ratio is low with barely 30% of males.
If there have been concentrations of birds and deserts, they have been less important than in recent seasons.
One of the characteristics of the 2019 Autumn Migration is a regular presence of Woodcock from the beginning of November to the end of December and especially these birds seemed to want to stay to confine themselves.
All the arguments invoked to explain the drop in attendance are contradicted by what happened this fall!
Winds misdirected during migration. They have been.
The absence of cold and the extreme softness. This has been the case, including in eastern countries and in Russia.
The scarcity of prey due to droughts. The Woodcock have found enough.
The modification of the wintering grounds, they accommodated themselves to it.
Warming and climate change have remained irrelevant.
With the elements in our possession to date, we can say that the 2019 Autumn Migration in France was good and above all regular throughout its duration. It is a satisfaction. Many of us without having to kill much, had fun and so did our dogs.
The information communicated by our Italian friends shows about this country.
In the North, good density (strong majority of young people).
In the Center and the South of the arrivals very quickly left. In Sicily very average.
Southern Piedmont a lot of B des B in December.
On the Alps below the snow limit for regular density in November and December.
We must regret that with the good to very good reproduction in 2019, the current regulations in France and in Europe will not allow the European Woodcock breeding stock to be reconstituted.
In fact, the first information on removals during the fall migration shows in some regions a strong increase in these compared to 2018.
The increase could be around 30%. The high level of samples is corroborated by the few survivors observed since the beginning of January in the hunted sectors and it is not over ... On the contrary, in the territories where shooting is little or not practiced, the densities remain stable.
This hunting pressure is particularly detrimental for the species, especially this year with the good climatic conditions or the Woodcock in their great majority would remain to winter in our departments.
Too bad ... because as we wrote in our study (The reality on the conservation status of European livestock). " If we let it blow this bird at the ability to replenish its numbers fast enough ".
This season will probably not make it possible to halt the downward trend in the European breeding stock. This is our observation.
January 10, 2020
Philippe Vignac Franck Ricaud
Photo: F. Ricaud