28 Jan February 28, 2025: EAC hosts the 2025 Woodcock Walk

At Opalanie Park on Friday, February 28 at 5:15 (rain date March 1)

We have dancing woodcocks in West Vincent! These fascinating birds are here doing their mating dance only for a short time!

Join us just before sunset as we hike to their favorite dancing area. If we are quiet and still enough, as the sun sets the American Woodcocks will start to call and dance.

The Woodcock’s Sky Dance
On late winter and early spring evenings, male woodcocks perform conspicuous displays, dubbed “sky dances” by naturalist Aldo Leopold. A male begins by giving a buzzy, nasal peent call, turning in a tight circle while calling to broadcast to all nearby females.

Then he suddenly launches into the air, circling higher and higher until almost invisible, wings making a distinctive chittering sound all the while. At the apex of his display flight (200–350 feet), the male woodcock switches to a series of high-pitched chirps, then tumbles back to earth in a steep dive, where he begins his display anew.

There will be a short introduction in the parking lot, and then we will walk down together to the area where they danced last year. Wear sturdy shoes and warm clothes for the walk and to stand quietly while we wait for sundown. They tend to display about 20 minutes after sundown. You may want to bring a cushion to sit on. BRING A FLASHLIGHT, since we will be hiking back to our cars in the dark.

Email us at [email protected] to RSVP. We will use the rain date if the weather is bad.

A West Vincent Environmental Advisory Council Event.