Notice2026-04104
Agency Information Collection Activities; North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an information collection without change.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10109-10111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04104]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2026-0166; FXMB123109WEBB0-267-FF09M26000; OMB
Control Number 1018-0019]
Agency Information Collection Activities; North American Woodcock
Singing Ground Survey
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an
information collection without change.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
May 1, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request
(ICR) by one of the following methods (please reference OMB Control No.
1018-0019 in the subject line of your comment):
<bullet> Internet (preferred): <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2026-
0166.
<bullet> U.S. mail: Service Information Collection Clearance
Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: PRB
(JAO/3W); Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#70391e161f2f331f1c1c301607035e171f06"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a7eec9c1c8f8e4c8cbcbe7c1d0d489c0c8d1">[email protected]</span></a>, or by
telephone at (703) 358-2503. Individuals in the United States who are
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay
services offered within their country to make international calls to
the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 5
CFR part 1320, all information collections require approval under the
PRA. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we are again inviting the public and other Federal agencies to
comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It
also helps the public understand our information collection
requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.
We are especially interested in public comments addressing the
following:
(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection
of information, including the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
(4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of response.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. Before including your address, phone number, email
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal
identifying information--may be publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Abstract: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712)
designates the Department of the Interior as the primary agency
responsible for managing migratory bird populations frequenting the
United States and setting hunting regulations that allow for the well-
being of migratory bird populations. These responsibilities dictate
that we gather accurate data on various characteristics of migratory
bird populations.
The North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey is an essential
part of the migratory bird management program. Federal, State,
Provincial, Tribal, and local conservation agencies conduct the survey
annually to provide the data necessary to determine the population
status of the American
[[Page 10110]]
woodcock. In addition, the information is vital in assessing the
relative changes in the geographic distribution of the species. We use
the information primarily to develop recommendations for hunting
regulations. Without information on the population's status, we might
promulgate hunting regulations that:
<bullet> Are not sufficiently restrictive, which could cause harm
to the woodcock population, or
<bullet> Are too restrictive, which would unduly restrict
recreational opportunities afforded by woodcock hunting.
State, local, Tribal, Provincial, and Federal conservation
agencies, as well as other participants, use Form 3-156 to conduct
annual field surveys. Instructions for completing the survey and
reporting data are on the reverse of the form and on the internet.
Observers scan/email or scan/upload (via the link provided) Form 3-156
to State and Province coordinators and/or enter the information
electronically through the internet at <a href="https://naturecounts.ca/nc/amwo/main.jsp">https://naturecounts.ca/nc/amwo/main.jsp</a>.
We collect observer information (name and email address) so that we
can contact the observer if questions or concerns arise. Observers
provide information on:
<bullet> Sky condition, temperature, wind, and precipitation;
<bullet> Stop number;
<bullet> Odometer reading;
<bullet> Time at each stop;
<bullet> Number of American Woodcock males heard peenting
(calling);
<bullet> Disturbance level; and/or
<bullet> Comments concerning the survey.
Data results are entered via a web browser application by the
observer or a State or Province coordinator. A mobile application which
operates on portable electronic devices is also available to enter data
while in the field. Substantial improvements are still being made to
the browser that will mimic the user experience of the mobile
application. The data entry feature for both will still be collecting
data on all the same fields within the survey form. For those routes
with spatial data within the mobile application, a mapping feature
allows observers to see each stop location along the route and keep
track of their current location. This will assist in stop location
verification efforts and help maintain a verified spatial reference for
the survey. Stop location verification, or more broadly, device
location verification, is the process of confirming the physical
location of a user's device (phone, computer) using GPS, Wi-Fi, or
cellular network data.
The administrator sends paper-based survey forms to every observer;
however, the observer is not required to submit the paper-based results
to the Service. They are advised to send a copy to State and Province
coordinators for data entry, quality assurance and quality control
checks, and/or follow up.
We use the information that we collect to analyze the survey data
and prepare reports. Assessment of the population's status serves to
guide the Service, the States, and the Canadian Government in the
annual promulgation of hunting regulations.
Title of Collection: North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0019.
Form Number: Form 3-156.
Type of Review: Renewal, without change, of a currently approved
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State, Provincial, local, and Tribal
Governments.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
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Average
Average number Average number Average number completion Estimated
Requirement of annual of responses of annual time per (rounded)
respondents each responses response annual burden
(hours) hours
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Survey--US (App Submission)
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Government...................... 290 1 290 2.05 595
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Survey--CAN (App Submission)
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Foreign Gov..................... 100 1 100 2.05 205
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Survey--US (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
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Government...................... 291 1 291 1.92 559
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Survey--CAN (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
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Foreign Gov..................... 101 1 101 1.92 194
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Survey--US
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Government...................... 2 1 2 1.92 4
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Survey--CAN
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Foreign Gov..................... 36 1 36 1.92 69
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Totals...................... 820 .............. 820 .............. 1,626
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[[Page 10111]]
The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-04104 Filed 2-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.