Summer Project

Ronald Bock

Ronald Bock

Member
My daughter and I got together with USFWS and AKDFG and volunteered on a summer project. Due to budget and personnel cuts their long term duck studies are at risk. Up here in the boreal forest we have lots of small ponds, lakes, streams. They have 150 nesting boxes for goldeneyes and buffleheads. In the next few weeks as the snow melts we'll be cleaning out the boxes and prepping them for nesting. They're 16 feet up in trees so we'll be carrying a 20 foot ladder through the woods. Through the summer we'll be tracking occupancy, egg counts ( by species) hatch rates, mortality, etc. We're really looking forward to this summer project.
I know I won't have the heart to hunt buffies or goldeneyes in our area. Especially after watching them from egg to migration. It's going to be a unique opportunity.
 
that sounds like fun. Caleb and I made a bunch of wood duck boxes that were put out by a high school zoology class that was taught at the fish and game office in Boise. That was close to 20 years ago. The boxes we later found were within reach of a tall man. I'm glad to see you needing a 20 foot to get to the boxes. I know if I was out with grandpa at the age of 15 who would have been carrying the ladder. Sounds like a good time and some good learning to be had.
 
Rarely do I shoot wood ducks since I've started working duck nesting boxes many years ago. I do find joy in the thought that some youngster might one day be pulling the trigger on his/her first duck that was hatched from one of my duck boxes.

Great work Ron! Please take lots of pictures of your work and don't hesitate to share them here or let us know where you share them! I'd love to see the progress!
 
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Ronald Bock said:
My daughter and I got together with USFWS and AKDFG and volunteered on a summer project. Due to budget and personnel cuts their long term duck studies are at risk. Up here in the boreal forest we have lots of small ponds, lakes, streams. They have 150 nesting boxes for goldeneyes and buffleheads. In the next few weeks as the snow melts we'll be cleaning out the boxes and prepping them for nesting. They're 16 feet up in trees so we'll be carrying a 20 foot ladder through the woods. Through the summer we'll be tracking occupancy, egg counts ( by species) hatch rates, mortality, etc. We're really looking forward to this summer project.
I know I won't have the heart to hunt buffies or goldeneyes in our area. Especially after watching them from egg to migration. It's going to be a unique opportunity.
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Ronald~

Great project! We have some Whistlers (Common Goldeneyes) nesting here in New York - mostly in the Adirondack region. Our atlas data shows no Butterball (Buffleheads) in the past 40 or so years.

Do you get both Commons and Barrows in your area?

BTW: The Whistler has long been a favorite on mine. I used to shoot them in the ice on Great South Bay. Now I mostly watch them courting late-Winter on the Hudson River. This one helps me find my car amongst all the other silver Foresters in my neck of the woods.

IMG_0547.JPG

BTW2: friends on Long Island have been finding small bunches of dead Buffleheads - most likely from avian flu. Awaiting test results.

All the best,

SJS
 
Steve Sanford said:
Ronald~

Great project! We have some Whistlers (Common Goldeneyes) nesting here in New York - mostly in the Adirondack region. Our atlas data shows no Butterball (Buffleheads) in the past 40 or so years.

Do you get both Commons and Barrows in your area?

BTW: The Whistler has long been a favorite on mine. I used to shoot them in the ice on Great South Bay. Now I mostly watch them courting late-Winter on the Hudson River. This one helps me find my car amongst all the other silver Foresters in my neck of the woods.

View attachment 65359

BTW2: friends on Long Island have been finding small bunches of dead Buffleheads - most likely from avian flu. Awaiting test results.

All the best,

SJS
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We get mainly commons and buffies. We see alot more Barrows down towards the coast. Lots of ringers and some old squaw around here too. Quite a Mish mosh really.
I saw about 2 dozen whistlers on open portions of the Chena River yesterday. The return begins with them. Very little open water yet.
 
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