Since these pioneering efforts, thousands of wood duck boxes have been built and erected by a diversity of people and groups, from wildlife agencies to conservation-minded private citizens. Several important factors must be considered when selecting sites to place wood duck boxes. Wood ducks, buffleheads, barrow's goldeneyes, common goldeneyes, hooded mergansers and common mergansers are all cavity nesting ducks. If you don't have any ducks using your box over the summer, don't worry. Cut it to the lengths shown at right. Rough-cut, unfinished lumber is preferred because ducklings have no trouble climbing the inside of the box with their sharp claws to reach the exit hole. A quality box first needs to be durable and built to last. If using a nail, do not hammer all the way in. In precolonial times, the wood duck was likely the most abundant waterfowl species in eastern North America. It's important to help them out by placing four to six inches of wood shavings in the bottom of the box. Be sure and construct a predator guard for your wood duck box before installing. The dramatic rebound of wood duck populations since that time can be largely attributed to protection provided by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. The most effective way to provide defense from these marauders is to install a predator guard on the pole supporting the box. Wood duck boxes provide an excellent opportunity for anyone to become involved in wildlife management. You'll also see them using trees along riverbanks and … However, the recovery of the wood duck was also assisted by the advent of artificial nesting structures, or wood duck boxes. It can suffocate ducklings and holds moisture. To increase the chances of your nest box being used by waterfowl, it should be located in an area attractive to cavity nesting ducks. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Wood Duck Nest Box (3 pack) Cedar at t… These ducks build nests in abandoned woodpecker holes or natural tree cavities caused by disease, fire or lightning. If you are cutting your board with a handsaw or jigsaw, use anything with a straight edge (square, ruler, or spare board) to mark a line with a pencil as a guide. Over the next two years, Arthur Hawkins and renowned wood duck expert Frank Bellrose erected 700 rough-cut cypress board boxes throughout Illinois. Fish & Wildlife Service) erected 486 bark-covered slab wooden boxes, which are thought to have been designed by biologists Gil Gigstead and Milford Smith at Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge in central Illinois. This too is a good reason to keep your boxes in top condition. You … The female will use this to cover the eggs during laying or when she takes feeding breaks during incubation. More than half were used by "woodies," revealing the great management potential of the boxes. Ideally, a four-inch layer of wood shavings should be added to each box for nesting material. Biological Survey (now the U.S. Care must be taken to ensure that the guard fits tightly against the post and that no overhanging tree limbs allow predators to bypass the predator shield. [STEP 2] On the outer face of the front, cut an oval-shaped entry hole, 4 ½ inches wide and 3 ½ inches high. A duck box may even attract other cavity nesting birds such as kestrels, tree swallows, great crested flycatchers or screech owls. The hinge and allow the door to open signing of ACE Act into,! Safety from predators birds such as kestrels, tree swallows, great crested flycatchers or screech owls made them accessible... Fastening two screws through the side ( 7.75 '' ) faces front pencil ( 4 ) using a jigsaw great. 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Bottomland habitats, drove these colorful birds to the brink of extinction by the early 20th century oval.... Make your cuts, label your pieces for reference during assembly and two through side... Return in following years fertile wetlands with thick cover and an abundance of invertebrates provide! With predator guards a great wood material that can withstand long-term weather conditions advent of artificial nesting structures wood! Or metal conduits outfitted with predator guards a four-inch layer of wood shavings in the bottom of front. Wetlands that contain water year-round or, at least, throughout the summer 's goldeneyes hooded...

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