The Elusive Timberdoodle: A Minnesota Conservation Story

Registration in advance is required to attend this virtual Zoom program. Follow the link to register. Once registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom program access details.

The charismatic American woodcock has long captured the attention of birders and bird hunters. This arguably odd looking bird is the only shorebird to call the forest floor its home and is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need here in MN where the forest habitats the birds rely on are becoming increasingly more threatened.

Researchers are working in partnership with hunting dogs and their humans to study these birds. Join us as we explore the world of conducting bird research using highly trained pointing dogs with guest speaker, Debbie Petersen. Her work with pointing dogs and woodcock enables research that helps to identify habitat needs throughout their breeding cycle and make forest management recommendations for woodcock productivity.

Debbie Petersen is enamored by birds and dogs, and her work with woodcock combines the two. She is a teacher, biologist, bird bander and hunter and loves sharing her passions with others. Formerly the education director for Hawk Ridge, she now works to inspire high school students to learn about and explore the outdoors. Debbie has been hunting with pointing dogs for over 20 years and banding birds for 26 years. Four years ago she was able to combine her love of pointing dogs and birds by becoming a certified woodcock bander.

The Natural Resources Research Institute / UMD is permitted by the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory to capture, band, and apply transmitters to woodcock using certified pointing dogs.