Best Way to Build a Wood Duck House
Blake Hamilton, Wildlife Biologist and Registered Forester
With the increase of urbanization and short-term timber harvesting, forest duck nesting habitat is decreasing. Most timber stands are currently managed for the quickest return possible. Therefore, old growth and mature hardwoods, which provided cavities for forest duck nesting, are decreasing. And then what can nosotros do about this decline? Install forest duck boxes!
With the proper design and layout, man-fabricated wood duck nesting structures tin be a cardinal asset to help preserve and enhance woods duck populations and habitat. Wildlife requires three key elements for survival: food, embrace, and h2o. If a habitat is missing whatsoever of these pieces, the puzzle isn't consummate. A proper box provides cover to ensure shelter and protection for eggs and ducklings when they are most vulnerable. However, simply nailing a woods duck box to whatsoever random tree almost your swimming may do more harm than proficient. Knowledge of nesting methods, strategic placement and design of the box is imperative if you're interested in seeing results from your labors.
A quality box consists of four central features: pattern, protection, location, and maintenance. Allow's take a more detailed look at each feature.
Wood Duck Box Blueprint
A quality box first needs to be durable and congenital to last. Cypress is a great wood material that can withstand long-term weather atmospheric condition. You do non desire the wood to be treated considering it can exist poisonous to avian species. The dimensions of the box should be big enough to hold 12 to fifteen clutch eggs and hen. At that place should be an entry/go out hole large plenty for the hen to take easy access, yet non too large for unwanted avian species to enter. All hardware (hinges, screws, latches) should be rust-proof. A door should be located on the side with a gap at the top to help with ventilation. The door is a must for yearly maintenance, which we will discuss later on. Small holes or gaps in the corners of the floor will help with drainage.
Protecting Wood Ducks From Predators
A quality box is useless without the insurance of protection from predators. One method of protection is provided by a predator guard or shield. The guard is cone shaped with at least a 24-inch base and the top should seal tightly to the mail. The wide base prevents raccoons from climbing the postal service and robbing the nest. The sealed top of the cone prevents predation from ophidian species. Overhanging branches should as well exist removed to discourage raccoons and other arboreal predators access to the nest. A durable post will serve as a mount for the box and guard, as well as anchor to keep the box in place. The mail service should be tall enough to keep the guard and box in a higher place hereafter vegetation growth and h2o levels.
Best Location for Wood Duck Boxes
The location chosen to install the box is very important. Installation can exist performed annually, just nesting flavor occurs February through June. Boxes can be installed in wetlands, swamps, creeks, ponds, oxbows, or lakes. Placing boxes in a wooded mural will provide a natural setting. The box needs to be facing open up water and at least 4-vi feet above the water line to avert possible flooding. The water marks on the native trees will serve as a good indicator of futurity water depth. If the water is too deep, largemouth bass will attack and consume ducklings once they emerge from the box. A slight frontward tilt can aid with drainage, prevent precipitation buildup, and reduce stress from current of air and rain 
during the nesting period. Wood ducks will perform what is called "dumping," if boxes are installed besides close together, especially in highly visible areas. This occurs when hen wood ducks "dump" their eggs in multiple boxes, rather than staying consistent using i box, triggered by viewing another hen using that box. This dumping effect tin overload a box; therefore, a hen cannot incubate the added eggs, which can atomic number 82 to a reduction in hatch success or an abandoned box. A skillful rule of thumb is to give boxes a 100-foot spacing for prevention of "dumping."
Maintaining Wood Duck Boxes
A fiddling maintenance is required in club to ensure the quality of the boxes and that they stay productive. Cavity nesters practise not deliver nesting materials to the nesting site. They use material currently constitute within the natural cavities such as: bark strips, debris, and decayed wood materials. At that place should be a three to 4-inch layer of forest shavings or sawdust covering the lesser of the box, providing absorber for the eggs and heat retention during incubation. This layer volition protect the eggs and help agree warmth during incubation. This mimicked nesting material should be replaced at the kickoff of the nesting period each year. Like all wildlife species, information technology is of import to limit disturbances, particularly during the nesting flow.
Every slice of the puzzle must be performed and fitted properly to ensure an acceptable degree of success. With the proper design, protection, location, and maintenance, wood duck boxes can contribute to the preservation and enhancement of forest duck populations and habitat.
Source: https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/waterfowl/four-keys-to-successful-wood-duck-boxes
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