I read Bobs post about the wood duck boxes. Sounds like something I would like to do. Seems pretty straight forward except the part about the baby ducks jumping six feet out of the box, must be little rubber buggers.
The part I hate... It's gonna be tough watching the ducklings dwindle to zero after they hit the water. The survival percentages are pretty dismal. Yes, I get that is how nature works, still weighs on my heart. I seem to have a lot of predation around my place too, racoons, coyotes, feral cats, hawks.
Any tips on placement? North facing? South facing? Edge of the water? out in the water? food?

Jeff-

You'll find lots of info on the internet, Jeff, but for the very best nesting box plan you should talk to Brettski on this site.
I've read that the leap seems to turn on their biological clocks and they are built to handle the drop.

In an attempt to limit bass predation you might want to put the boxes away from the water.

Unless your pond provides them with thick cover you'll rarely see them because after the bailout they seek cover for protection. Most ponds are far too open for them to feel safe and they are extremely wary.

I've never fed the ducks but I've read that corn in very shallow water might help in attracting them initially but it might attract other animals also.

So do your research, contact Brettski and enjoy your project.

6 feet is nothing. I have a pair of wood ducks that nest 30' up in an oak tree in my back yard. The light, downy ducklings aren't hurt at all by the fall to earth.


I wanted woody boxes too, but I think it hurts more than helps when you have LMB. Their chances are much better nesting elsewhere.

Thanks for the replies. I did log some time researching. Seems there are some pros and cons. I'd like to at least try a season or two. They may not nest here at all or if it turns out bad, I could always take the boxes down.

Jeff-

Since my WD boxes are on the water at the edge of the timber, and since I am an absentee landowner, I can't really say if we had any luck with the 4 boxes that we have mounted. When I go to clean them out this winter, I will get a better idea if we had tenants. Last winter was the first year (the summer prior) that they were installed and I found no evidence of inhabitants. Matt Clark is another good PB source of WD info.
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edit; since they were on the edge of the pond, this is why we opted to use SMB as the top predator, as opposed to LMB

I was thinking of introducing ducks to my pond and this idea intrigued me

http://www.electricfence-online.co.uk/shopscr526.html

What do you think?

Yikes, the price of that thing is about $725! I'm assuming you would want to build your own.

Pretty neat looking, and would be easy enough to build yourself. I think a live plant floating island with nest box might be a little higher on the "coolness scale" though.

The last 2 years Wood ducks have come to my pond, and they do enjoy the 2 floating Islands I have. They apparently get alot of insects off them, but the little bugger's won't nest in my nest box. I built it according to plans from a D.U. Instruction sheet, and put it on a tree standing in water. I've been told that sometimes it takes a few years before they take to it.

Your right and I bet the postage would be on the high side. Anyway, I was thinking of building one to see how it would work out. I was going to use a pallet, cover the top with plywood and stuff some foam in between the slats.
Any idea how big the hole should be for the nesting box?

Those nests look real easy to build. They are essentially rectangular boxes. I'm not much of a wood worker but made some bluebird houses out of cedar fencing materials. I hinged the top for clean out and used an inexpensive hole cutter with my drill motor for the opening. I bet you could find some plans. I have less than $5.00 per box in mine.

IIRC Brettski has the exact, authorized wood duck box design. He's out there somewhere today.

BSKI!!!!!!

this is about where my Wood duck adventure begins

Brettski's "out-there" everyday. Some would even say that he is way, way, out there.

JHAP sure is punching Brettski today.

cupcake revenge

Don't worry about Bski, he can take care of himself, 'sides it's all in good fun. Anyhoo, I'm betting dollars to donuts that my image will end up in a photo enhanced picture a few times in 2009. Oh great, now I'm hungry for donuts.

Ric notes:


...can't wait for the New Year's day parade
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Originally posted by JHAP:




.......and then some.