Managing for Wood Ducks in East Texas - Trinity Waters
Managing for Wood Ducks in East Texas - Trinity Waters
Managing for Wood Ducks in East Texas - Trinity Waters
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Nest boxes should be at least seven or eight feet above the ground or water<br />
level. Remember to clear away all limbs and vegetation that may offer a pathway<br />
<strong>for</strong> predators to reach the box. An <strong>in</strong>spection dur<strong>in</strong>g the grow<strong>in</strong>g season also is<br />
suggested because many large herbaceous plants or woody sprouts can quickly<br />
grow to heights with<strong>in</strong> reach of the nest box. In floodpla<strong>in</strong>s, boxes should be<br />
placed <strong>in</strong> locations expected to rema<strong>in</strong> above high water (see Figure 6).<br />
Photo: Carl Frentress<br />
Numbers may be pa<strong>in</strong>ted on each box so you can keep a record of duck use <strong>for</strong><br />
each nest box through the years. Use enough pa<strong>in</strong>t to prevent the numbers<br />
from fad<strong>in</strong>g with time. Repa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g of numbers may be necessary dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
annual fall/w<strong>in</strong>ter ma<strong>in</strong>tenance activity discussed below. Sawdust, wood shav<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
or wood chips (all from untreated wood) should be added to a depth of about<br />
four <strong>in</strong>ches <strong>in</strong> the bottom of the nest boxes. Check all boxes to be sure the<br />
hardware cloth "ladder" is present and securely fastened <strong>in</strong>side the boxes. This is<br />
the only means <strong>for</strong> duckl<strong>in</strong>g to exit the boxes. They must have a way to leave<br />
the boxes. The “ladder: is an important provision; be sure it is <strong>in</strong> place.<br />
NEST BOX PREDATION<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ally, a predator barrier must be <strong>in</strong>stalled on the support pole. Predator<br />
barriers are mandatory. Do not elim<strong>in</strong>ate this feature from nest<strong>in</strong>g units. It can<br />
prevent the nest box from becom<strong>in</strong>g a death trap <strong>for</strong> nest<strong>in</strong>g wood duck hens.<br />
In <strong>Texas</strong> serious predators of wood duck eggs are rat snakes ("chicken snakes")<br />
and raccoons. Both are extremely proficient at locat<strong>in</strong>g and enter<strong>in</strong>g wood duck<br />
nest<strong>in</strong>g cavities. However, rat snakes are the primary predators and pose the<br />
greatest threat by far. They are proficient and diligent climbers and are highly<br />
effective <strong>in</strong> locat<strong>in</strong>g any prospective prey <strong>in</strong> elevated cavities. Raccoons can<br />
damage wood duck nests, but <strong>Texas</strong> studies <strong>in</strong>dicate they are not as detrimental<br />
as rat snakes. Barriers that exclude rat snakes generally exclude raccoons also.<br />
Nonetheless, do not underestimate the capabilities of either animal <strong>in</strong> ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
access to a wood duck nest.<br />
Photo: Kev<strong>in</strong> J. Kraai<br />
FIGURE 6<br />
Next Box<br />
Installed<br />
All artificial nest boxes <strong>for</strong> wood ducks should be equipped with an effective<br />
predator guard. Also, overhang<strong>in</strong>g or nearby limbs or tree trunks that could<br />
offer access to nest boxes should be elim<strong>in</strong>ated. Similar measures may be taken<br />
to protect suitable natural tree cavities. Such protection from predators cannot<br />
be overemphasized. Predation is a factor often overlooked by persons eager<br />
to embark on a wood duck nest box program. A nest box without a reliable<br />
predator guard is not fully equipped and may become a death trap rather than<br />
a haven <strong>for</strong> wood duck hens or their eggs.<br />
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