Wilson's Snipe

Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicate) Torrey Wenger

Monroe Co., MI. 4/10/2007 © Allen Chartier

(Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II)

Wilson’s Snipe is a victim of the lumpers and dwelling sandpiper was reported in 23% of Michigan’s townships; in MBBA II, they were splitters. In 1945, Wilson’s Snipe was reported in only 14.5%, a drop of nearly 40%. combined with other snipe species worldwide as The most significant decrease occurred in the the Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago (AOU SLP: Wilson’s Snipe were found in almost 60% 1945). In 2002, based on behavioral and fewer townships and were not found in 14 structural differences, it was split off again counties where they were previously (Banks et al. 2002). While this frustrates casual documented. birders and competitive listers alike, the bird itself certainly does not care. This on-again, Some of this decline may be caused by observer off-again status is not the origin of the infamous bias. First, snipe are most detectable during “snipe hunt”, where children are sent into the their early mating season, as males make bushes searching for a non-existent bird. “winnowing” flights above their territories – if

observers delayed the start of their fieldwork, All snipe feed by using their long bills to probe they missed this species. Second, the snipe is a for small insects and larvae in mud and moist habitat specialist, preferring wetlands with low soils. A snipe can open just the tip of its bill, herbaceous vegetation, sparse shrubs, and enabling it to capture and swallow small prey scattered trees (Mueller 1999) – if observers items without removing its bill from the soil. concentrated on other wetland types, they

missed this species. However, these two factors The snipe can be found in nearly all of North cannot account for the entire observed decline. America during some part of the year. It breeds throughout much of Canada and in the northern Breeding Biology states and winters in the southern two-thirds of Wilson’s Snipe arrive in Michigan as soon as the U.S. and south through Central America. the soil thaws and food becomes available, Michigan lies at the edge of its breeding range. typically by early April in the LP (Amman and

Urbain 1991). The males arrive up to two Distribution weeks earlier than the females and establish Contrary to expectations in the previous territories using winnowing flights. The Michigan Atlas, the distribution of the Wilson’s “winnow” noise is created by air flowing over Snipe has diminished. In MBBA I, this marsh-

© 2010. Kalamazoo Nature Center Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicate) Torrey Wenger specialized tail feathers. The female is courted trend results due to this species’ crepuscular by and will mate with several males, tendencies and habitat restrictions. establishing a pair bond once she begins to lay eggs (Mueller 1999). Experienced females nest The snipe is a game bird and is regulated by the early in the season while yearling females nest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Reports up to two months later; snipe only produce one submitted to the Migratory Game Bird Harvest clutch (excluding replacement clutches after Information Program (HIP) generally indicate a predation) but nests can be found for months decline in harvest. The 2008 Michigan harvest due to this age-related asynchrony of breeding was estimated at 1,200 birds while the 10-year (Mueller 1999). average is 2,320; the 2008 U.S. harvest was also below its 10-year average, 95,500 compared to The well-concealed nest is placed on the ground 110,600 (Raftovich et al. 2009; USFWS 2007a, close to water. Unlike other shorebirds, the nest 2007b, and 2006; Padding et al. 2005). Another is well constructed. A typical clutch consists of 13% can be considered “unretrieved kills” four eggs, each approximately 15% of the (USFWS 2007a, 2006). Fewer hunters seem to female’s mass (Mueller 1999.) Only the female be pursuing snipe than in previous years incubates, starting when the last egg is laid. The (Raftovich et al. 2009; USFWS 2007a, 2006). eggs hatch 18 to 20 days later and the chicks can Thus, the decline in harvest cannot be attributed leave the nest as soon as they are dry. The solely to a decline in the population. young are divided between the pair, the male taking the first two hatched chicks; the small Conservation Needs family units do not maintain contact with each Habitat loss is a problem for any habitat other (Mueller 1999). specialist. The wetlands required by snipe can be lost to successional plant growth, conversion Newly hatched snipe grow quickly. Their bills to developed land, or changes in hydrology. start off “remarkably short”, growing to almost Much of the breeding range and a large part of adult length by 35 days (Mueller 1999). They the wintering range fall outside of U.S. borders, can fly short distances at two weeks. Chicks necessitating international cooperation. weigh about 10% of adult mass when they hatch and reach full adult size by three weeks, at The following recommendations were made by which point they are typically independent the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ (Mueller 1999). At six weeks of age, they begin Priority Information Needs for Rails and Snipe to congregate. funding strategy (2009), which recognizes that current management decisions for snipe are Abundance and Population Trends fraught with uncertainties. A national Population sizes and abundance trends are monitoring plan should be implemented: essentially unknown at the flyway and national improved survey techniques have been levels, with no snipe-specific surveys currently developed for this difficult-to-access and hard- done (Association of Fish and Wildlife to-spot species but are not yet in use nation- Agencies 2009). wide. The HIP hunter screening and sampling protocol should be improved, thus recovering Population trends from the Breeding Bird more valid data. The Parts Collection Survey Survey, while showing declines at national, (PCS), in which hunter-submitted wings are regional, and state levels, are not significant used to determine the age ratio of the harvested (Sauer et al. 2008). The BBS does not provide population and potentially the geographic origin enough data to return statistically significant

© 2010. Kalamazoo Nature Center Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicate) Torrey Wenger of the individual birds (by isotope analysis of Mueller, H. 1999. Common Snipe (Gallinago the feathers), should be improved. gallinago). In The birds of North America, No. 417 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Several other research avenues exist. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, response of snipe to habitat management should PA. be more fully studied. Migration routes are Padding, P.I., K.D. Richkus, M.T. Moore, E.M. poorly known. Extra-pair copulation is Martin, S.S. Williams, and H.L. Spriggs. common and raises questions about differences 2005. Migratory bird hunting activity and in paternal care. harvest during the 2003 and 2004 hunting seasons, preliminary estimates. US Unlike larger species, snipe do not have a Department of the Interior, Washington, DC. dedicated hunter organization (e. g., Pheasants Raftovich, R.V., K.A. Wilkins, K.D. Richkus, Forever, Whitetails Unlimited). There is little S.S. Williams, and H.L. Spriggs. 2009. pressure from that quarter to maintain the Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest population. However, any wetland during the 2007 and 2008 hunting seasons. conservation, from land conservancy easements US Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, MD. to Ducks Unlimited projects to existing state Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2008. and federal wildlife refuges, may benefit this The North American Breeding Bird Survey, secretive bird, depending on the habitat mix in results and analysis 1966-2007. Version the wetland complex. Wilson’s Snipe deserves 5.15.2008. USGS Patuxent Wildlife its own “fan base” but will have to make do Research Center, Laurel, MD. with being lumped with other wetland species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2007a. Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest during the 2001 and 2002 hunting Literature Cited seasons – final report. U.S. Department of American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU). 1945. the Interior, Washington, DC. Twentieth supplement to the American U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Ornithologists’ Union check-list of North 2007b. Migratory bird hunting activity and American birds. Auk 62:436-449. harvest during the 2005 and 2006 hunting Amman, A., and J.W. Urbain. 1991. Common seasons: preliminary estimates. U.S. Snipe. In Brewer, R., G.A. McPeek, and R.J. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC. Adams Jr. (eds.). 1991. The Atlas of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Breeding Birds of Michigan. Michigan 2006. Migratory bird hunting activity and State University Press, East Lansing, MI. harvest during the 1999 and 2000 hunting Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ seasons – final report. U.S. Department of Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird the Interior, Washington, DC. Support Task Force. 2009. Priority information needs for rails and snipe: a Suggested Citation funding strategy. Wenger, T. 2010. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago Banks, R.C., C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. delicate). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. Baldy, and Kratter, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen Jr, J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010. The Second J.D. Rising, and D.F. Stotz. 2002. Forty- Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo third supplement to the American Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Accessed Ornithologists’ Union check-list of North online at: .