This is an exclusive event, limited to 12 people!

MBC member Deb DeSalvo has generously offered to host a meet-up to watch the woodcock courtship dance at her Hunterdon County farm in Oldwick, NJ! Note that as of February 19th, 2026, there’s no set date yet—it depends on when the woodcocks begin to display. Check the Montclair Bird Club link below frequently—the date will be set about a day before it happens, as it’s all dependent on the woodcocks themselves!

What the woodcock courtship dance is:
Each spring, American woodcock males put on an amazing courtship display that we can witness here in NJ. At dawn and dusk, the males produce a loud peent call from the ground, then spring up into the air, flying in a wide spiral with their wings twittering. Once they reach 200-250 feet, they zig zag back to the ground, chirping as they go.

Event Details

Date: TBD: Week of March 11, 2026

Location: Address provided upon registration.

Event Duration: 6:15 PM - TBD

Registration is required. Attendance limited to 12 people.