WOOD DUCK MANAGEMENT
Woodies naturally build their nests in large tree hollows. These preferred nesting locations can be hard to come by, but fortunately, wood ducks take readily to human assistance. Woodies take advantage of when properly placed nesting boxes near creeks, swamps and other flooded areas.

An advantage of the nesting boxes is that a conical metal shield can be placed on the support pole below the box to deter predators. Fox and gray squirrels, rat snakes, crows, blue jays and -- perhaps the most serious aggressor -- raccoons all pose a threat to wood duck eggs and nestlings. Thus, the size of the opening in the box is critical. It has to be just large enough for wood ducks to enter, but too small for a raccoon.

One wood duck clutch generally consists of 10 to 15 eggs. In the South, woodies have a long nesting season. If a clutch of eggs is destroyed, the birds can re-nest.

Another factor contributing to population success is the practice of "dump" nesting: Two or more hens may deposit their eggs in a single nest. One researcher counted five hens dumping their eggs into the same nest. Occasionally, two hens may share incubation duties for an especially large clutch, but usually one hen does all the work.

It's not known why this "dumping" practice takes place. Even in a location with several available nest sites, a hen may still dump her eggs in another's nest. At times, the hen may even move on to lay a second clutch, which she then proceeds to incubate herself.

Incubation lasts approximately 27 to 34 days. Half of the clutch initially hatches before or around the 30-day mark; the remainder follows a few days later.

HELPING OUT
If you have land or a hunting lease that has beaver ponds on it, you can increase the number of wood ducks in the area by putting out some nesting boxes.

Building a wood duck nesting box is no complicated affair; in fact, it's easier than constructing a regular birdhouse. As far as materials go, simplicity is again the rule. Roughly 10 1/2 feet of 1-by-10-inch cedar board -- naturally resistant to both insects and weather and requiring no finishing -- is needed, along with some nails. If possible, one side should be rough; that should be used for inside surfaces.

On the other hand, pine or even plywood can be used. If you opt for these materials, some type of varnish or finish can make the structure last longer.

When constructing your nesting boxes, keep a couple of other things in mind. First, wood ducks are not good at collecting nesting material; indeed, they don't actually gather any at all. To aid them, fill the bottom of the box with a couple of inches of wood shaving such as can be picked up at most pet stores. Don't, however, use sawdust: Wood duck hatchlings can smother in that material.

It's important to maintain the boxes by cleaning out old nesting materials and replenishing fresh wood shavings in the fall or winter. Wood ducks scout out future nesting sites and will return in the spring to a well-maintained box.

When it's time to set the boxes out, put them on dead trees near standing water with the opening facing the water. If possible, mount the box on a solid dead tree that's in the water. The best position of all is to put the box on a steel pole near the edge of water with dead trees close by.

Placing a predator guard on the post can greatly affect the survival rate by deterring egg-stealing predators such as raccoons from entering the nests.

The Ducks Unlimited Web site at www.ducks.org illustrates ways to build guards and provides complete instructions for constructing your wood duck box. Follow the links through Conservation and Ducks 101 to find and download directions.

The Southern Regional office of Ducks Unlimited can provide any information pertaining to attracting and maintaining wood ducks in your area. Give them a call at (601) 956-1936.

The beavers create right conditions, and you can complete the effort with these nesting structures. By providing greater nesting opportunities, wood ducks can be coaxed to move into and to thrive in your back yard.