Wood Duck Nest Boxes

[HawkinsHollow]

He put a 4" flue pipe over the post. I use aluminum downspouts on the posts, and on bluebird box posts too. I cut them so they fit to within an inch of the bottom on the box, and I leave them loose to they wobble if something tries to climb. I've never had a coon get to a box with the downspout on there.

Never thought about downspouts! Great idea! I got these 4" flue pipes at the flea market for $1 per 2' piece, too good of a deal to pass up.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Looks like we have some activity in our boxes!!! I checked one and it had downy feathers in it, did not see any eggs but I did not dig. But the feathers are a good sign. The other had bird poop under it, but I got sidetracked before I looked in the box. But I take the bird poop as a good sign. I also spooked 2 males off the pond as I walked up, another good sign. I will get some picture next time I go down there.

 

[Ford850]

Those are excellent signs!
I don't have a pond area, but a small creek through some woods. I don't think it's enough of a draw for wood ducks to nest, but I do get them buzzing through occasionally. I cleaned all of my bluebird boxes last evening, and was thinking of this thread.

 

[Ford850]

Where I grew up, our house was along a wooded area overlooking a wooded bottom land with a nice sized creek. There was a large Sycamore tree along the upper edge, directly behind our house. It had a couple nice sized holes way up high, and it drew the attention of a pair of wood ducks every spring when they scouted for nesting areas. It was comical to watch as the drake would locate a hole, and the hen would then come in and inspect it. It looked like they would argue over it for a few minutes, and then they would fly off looking for a better tree. Every year we would see them do this, and not once did they ever nest there. I used to joke when they would fly off... "happy wife, happy life", or "location location location".

 

[the old grind]

I went from full ice that I walked last Sunday 3/1/2020 to four acres of open water by today.

I spooked 5 mallards off the pond yesterday when I yelled at a pair of geese to go.

I've seen all three this week, and they're the last to nest & rear their young here every year they do so. (most)

I could use a few boxes, for sure.

 

[dieselscout80]

Question, about how long after installing a wood duck box before one will see them using the box?

I just put up two boxes Saturday.

Carey

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Question, about how long after installing a wood duck box before one will see them using the box?

I just put up two boxes Saturday.

Carey

That is good timing Carey. You should see some activity over the next couple of weeks. It is mating season here in the south. I only put mine out a month ago, and I already am seeing signs of usage. Good luck!

 

[ovrszd]

A few years ago I put a Bluebird house on a fence post here at the farm. I was walking back to the shop, tools in hand, looked over my shoulder to check out my masterpiece and there was a Bluebird sitting on top of the house.

Now that was good timing!!!!

All species are staking their claims now here in Northern Missouri. Haven't saw my Purple Martins yet but I expect them in another ten days or so.

 

[dieselscout80]

That is good timing Carey. You should see some activity over the next couple of weeks. It is mating season here in the south. I only put mine out a month ago, and I already am seeing signs of usage. Good luck!

Well not quite a month later we have customer's.

We seen them everyday starting on the 2 April and the boxes were installed on the 9th of March.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Well, so far it looks like we had one successful hatch in one of our boxes. There was a mama duck in there for the last month or so. I checked the other day and there were feathers and what looked like the remains of 4 or 5 egg shells. It was hard to tell how many total eggshells there were. I never saw the babies on the water. Mama must have moved them to the creek that is adjacent to the pond. Our other nest box is now in use so I will go back to check that one in a couple of weeks to see how it looks. It is exciting that the boxes were used seemingly successfully the first year.