New Wood Duck Project

A

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
This years Wood Duck project is just about ready to start. Last year we put out around sixty boxes up and down the Hudson River Valley. We mounted them in trees and on ponds and swamps. We had success in the last few years with lots of boxes producing. We didn't put any guards on last years boxes and still did very well. With just about half the boxes checked after the season. The boxes that were used were almost half. With reports from hunters during the season the number of wood ducks were up. Some of the boxes we know were used. But do to ice and high water we couldn't check them. This years boxes will be mounted on post with guards. Over the past 38 years we have been doing this project and have had success. Were there years of only a few producing? Yes! But one successful box is a win win for everyone. Wood Ducks still use tree cavities to nest. All our boxes just give them a new safer home to nest in. Each and everyone of us can help the wood duck. If all the other ducks could be helped as easy as the woody. We would have so many birds all the time. Make a box ! buy a boxes , doesn't matter do something and give back. View attachment 20181201_121840.jpg
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Great work, Anthony, and thanks for sharing this post.

I've been wanting to do something like this for years, but so far that's as far as I've gotten.

If anything ever motivates me enough to get off my butt and to actually get some of these done, it will probably be your wood duck box project posts on this forum.
 
Steve old buddy , Just get off your back side and build a box or go buy one. I can't hammer a nail worth carp . But I get things done. If you love duck hunting and there are wood ducks where you live then go for it. Find a buddy you hunt with and maybe a few kids and get something started. There know wrong way. A wood duck needs a home for his family. Your the man to do it. I promise you!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first sign of seeing a woody even around your boxes will get you hooked for life.View attachment 20191019_100339.jpg
 
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Guys , An other organisation called the N.J.WATERFOWL ASSOC get TOGETHER EACH YR. AN BUILD AT LAST 50 0R MORE BOXES & SPREAD THEM THROUGH THE STATE. WHICH BY TAKING AN Active PART IN THE of the BUILDING & ASSEMBLY CREW OF About 20 or so of us members make a day of it . WE GET some of the materiel donated by cedar mills & purchase some from are treasury, WIRE etc .THE REPORT IS AT ABOUT A 40% usage rate.Anyone interested in purchasing some contact the N.J. waterfowl assoc web site & someone will get back to you.
 
Paul

What a nice job by you guys. My hats off to you. That is a great rate of success on the duck. Well then New York and New Jersey are doing their part. Sending some nice birds down South to our friends down there. I know that there lots of good people out there doing great things for our sport and for nature. Great job by all.
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Can you post the spec of the boxes? I would like construct a few myself to hang up here in southern Indiana. Thanks
 
Blake

I'll have to dig out are plans. But its just as easy to look it up on line. There are many different plans out there. Pick one you like and go with it. If I can help let me know.
 
To all

Over the years I have read many different ways of doing things with wood duck boxes. Early in our building we use to build community boxes. Which I read ! many times that the wood ducks are community birds. I also read that putting boxes close together was a good thing. And I also read that having boxes close may cause dumping ( ducks dropping their eggs in different boxes). Overloading other ducks nest or not sitting on the eggs they left in other nest. I read put boxes in trees that's where wood ducks nest in cavities. Then it was place them with guards on poles or post. Then plastic boxes came out and they were the new thing. Then they were not ! birds fried in them. My points here is try what you want to try. I have had production in trees , on water, and even in plastic boxes, with guards without guards. But we have failed in all of the above also. Land Predators will get theirs, turtles snakes and fish will get theirs. So do not feel bad. That is called balance. They have to eat too. Just do something until you find out what works in your part of the county.
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