HOME: www.hiltonpond.org			GENERAL INFO
			CONTENTS
			RESEARCH
			EDUCATION
			PUBLICATIONS
			MISCELLANY

- WOOD DUCK NESTBOXES -

.............
Baby Wood Duck, Aix sponsa, and Nest Box

Bluebirds aren't the only species that take to artificial nestboxes. Wood Ducks, Aix sponsa, also occupy fabricated structures. For information about Wood Ducks at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, see Nice Weather for Ducklings.

A quick-and-easy plan for making Wood Duck nest boxes that involves all right-angle cuts is shown below. Use rot-resistant rough-sawn white cedar or cypress if possible. After making the box, place it following these instructions:

• Place the box about 15' off the ground on the main trunk of tree near water
• For pond placement, place the box on a 4" x 4" treated wood pole driven into the ground at least 6' from shore so that the bottom of the box is about 4' above water level; if a pole is used, a galvanized metal predator guard is strongly recommended
• In either case above, place the box where it can be monitored and cleaned easily by ladder or boat
• Although Wood Ducks will nest in natural cavities up to a mile from water, the hen leads her ducklings to the closest water after they depart the nest box; thus, it is better to have the box fairly close to a pond, lake, stream, or river
• Don't place more than one nest box per half-acre of pond or dump-nesting may occur
• By January of each year, place a fresh 4"-deep bed of wood shavings in the bottom of the box
• Remember that just because you are trying to attract Wood Ducks does not mean you should discourage other native cavity nesters that may use the box, including Eastern Screech-Owls, woodpeckers, and Great Crested Flycatchers
• NOTE: Drill several 1/4" holes in bottom of box to allow for water drainage
• Please send a message to RESEARCH if you use these plans and/or attract Wood Ducks to your nestbox

If you found this information useful or interesting, please
Support
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
It's painless, and YOU can make a difference!

Just CLICK on a logo below.

Make direct donations on-line through Network for Good:
LIKE TO SHOP ON-LINE? Donate a portion of your purchase price from 500+ top on-line stores via iGive:
Use your PayPal account to make direct donations:

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK You can also post questions for The Piedmont Naturalist

Join the Nature Study Network

Search Engine for Hilton Pond Center

Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is a non-profit research & education organization in York, South Carolina USA; phone (803) 684-5852. Directed by Bill Hilton Jr., aka The Piedmont Naturalist, it is the parent organization for Operation RubyThroat. Contents of this website--including articles and photos--may NOT be duplicated, modified, or used in any way except with the express written permission of Hilton Pond Center. All rights reserved worldwide. To obtain permission for use or for further assistance on accessing this Web site, contact the Webmaster.