See the Mating Ritual of the American Woodcock

Ever seen the mating dance of the American woodcock? Now's your chance.

Join Cleveland Metroparks naturalist John Miller Friday, April 12 at Royalview Picnic Area in Strongsville to experience the spectacular flight of this woodland sandpiper and learn what he hopes to accomplish with his peenting, twittering and chirping.

The event runs 8-9 p.m.

Royalview Picnic Area is off Royalview Lane, which runs off Valley Parkway just south of Royalton Road.

For more information, call 440-526-1012.

A rotund little bird with a long beak that is used to pull earthworms out of the mud, the male woodcock  woos his mate with an elaborate song and dance ritual that is one of spring's birding delights.

Woodcocks can be heard in the eastern United States and Canada in March and April, and can continue to be heard in some northern areas in May.

These spectacular sky dances only take place around dusk, so most predators can't easily see them. In addition, owls, which are prime nocturnal predators, are not attracted by the low-frequency "peents" and the higher pitched wing and warbling sounds that are made, because the bird is too high in the air for owls to catch.

A separate Woodcock Watch is set for 8-9 p.m. Saturday, April 6 at the Buzzard Roost, at the corner of State Road and West Drive in Hinckley.