Joann Porter, age 10, of Seattle, Wash

Is there such a the as a snipe?

Joann has heard of snipe hunting. But she has never known a hunter to return home with a snipe, She doubts that such a creature exists. Well, the snipe does exist, though he is a shy creature and does not mix much, even with other snipes, He is a game bird and some people consider him delicious for dinner. This fact he most likely knows, for he is a wily bird and very hard to catch.

The snipe is a member of the sandpiper family, a very close relative of the woodcock. These birds are called shore birds because they love to dabble near the waters. Our snipe is a native of bogs and marshy meadows. He is by no means rare. Usually he summers in the far northern states and winters in the southland.

There are a few delightful spots where a Snipe is a permanent resident, The climate of coastal California suits him the year round.  And he never leaves the region of Puget Sound, So Joann's friends in Seattle can go snipe hunting the year round.

Catching him is another matter, He is a plump bird, about 12 inches long. He has short legs and a very long, slender bill.  His color blends perfectly with mud and marsh, He is dappled brown on top and pale underneath.  He can stand and let you walk right by ‑ knowing you won’t spot him.

Should you scare him into flight, he still has tricks. He is a strong flyer and a great dodger. The snipe flies in a jerky zigzag path, very hard for a marksman to hit. In his spare time he dines on worms, snails, slugs. seeds and bits of water plants.

The snipers home is also hard to spots Mrs. Snipe finds a slight hollow in the, ground and lines it with grass. She lays four eggs. They are olive green, freckled with brown.  Imagine trying to spot those colors in a grassy bog. Mama arranges her eggs with the pointed ends towards the center. That way she can cover them all under her soft feathery breast.

There is one time when Papa Snipe is easier to spot, that is when he  goes courting. Then he makes a big fuss and doesn't seem to mind who sees him. In fact he acts like a regular show‑off. He flies around and around in circles, coming down in swooping dives.

What's more, he gives off a preent preent noise all the time. It is not a song, for the sound is not made by his voice, It is the sound of the air rushing through his tail feathers which are very stiff and slender. During court ship, Mr. Snipe spreads then out wide to catch the whistling wind. Janenne