where are all my wood ducks

A

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
Now first of all ! I have to say that I haven't been out on the water lately. But in my boxes that I can do a drive by. I'm not seeing as many wood ducks as I did last few years. Now before I go nuts!!!. I know the weather has been really crazy here in Up State New York in Hudson Valley. But dam ! do the Wood Ducks have a stay at home order like the rest of us. Not saying I haven't seen a bunch. But just not as many as the last few years. Hope I not losing my touch. I haven't checked any of my boxes along the swamps and river beds. So If there up in full force that's where I see them. In one of the bigger swamps around here there is a large group of them. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed. At this time I want to thank all of you great people for building wood duck boxes. You make me proud and I know the future of the Wood Duck is in good shape thanks to you all. I heard from all of you that built them and placed them in wetlands. So check them when you can. Check your old ones and fix them up or take them down. Clean them out when you can. Don't feel bad if you miss a year. I have found new wood duck eggs in old nest that wasn't cleaned out many times. Be careful when you check them. There could always be a guest in them. And I'm not saying a duck. Snakes bees and all kinds of other creatures . Thanks again and please stay safe.View attachment duck_box_plans.pdf
View attachment getPart-21.jpg
 
Last edited:
I'm concerned down here in South Carolina. I checked my boxes a month ago and out of 28 boxes I checked only 9 boxes had hens sitting. I'm not a fan of our 3 wood duck limit here in SC and I believe it's taking it's toll. Our harvest is around 80,000 +/- wood ducks out of around 225,000 ducks killed annually....that's a lot of woodies.
 
Here in Eastern NC, I have noticed a fairly sharp drop in wood ducks in the last several years. Anecdotal I know, but I believe they are being over shot.
 
I have eight boxes up on a piece of property in Ct and have seen only one pair so far this year. Talking to
Biologists friend of mine he also noted that he has seen very few on a Sanctuary pond that he tends
to.
 
I have managed a half dozen to a dozen boxes for over 20 years. Last year was my worst hatch year. I typically have eggs in the boxes by mid Feb. This year, I have 6 boxes and all have eggs. Two boxes were nest dumped up to about 21 to 22 eggs each. Those boxes hatched last about 16 eggs each last week. My earliest eggs were busted and did not hatch. If I clean my boxes soon after they hatch, then I can have 2 and sometimes 3 clutches each year. They are likely around.
 
J.R.

Great job my friend, Ya we are seeing some good signs now too. We just put out are last boxes last week. Late for us. But I had them so I put them out. Cleaning boxes is a big part of success. I have not clean out any yet this year. But have found a good hatch in a old used box before. Wood Duck are funny birds. Before people like us they just did it in trees in old wood pecker holes or a hollow tree. Man has really helped the wood duck. Only if it was so easy for all the other kinds of ducks. Great job again . Stay safe.

Anthony Sr.
 
P Taylor said:
I'm concerned down here in South Carolina. I checked my boxes a month ago and out of 28 boxes I checked only 9 boxes had hens sitting. I'm not a fan of our 3 wood duck limit here in SC and I believe it's taking it's toll. Our harvest is around 80,000 +/- wood ducks out of around 225,000 ducks killed annually....that's a lot of woodies.
Click to expand...


I agree 100% about the 3 bird limit taking a mighty toll. Makes no sense at all to me.

Especially since most Wood Ducks are killed very early, or very late in the day.

Not only can shooters not tell drakes from hens, at those times, but also many Wood Ducks are lost (IMO more than any other duck), and some. shooters will continue to kill, or wound birds until they have 3 in hand.

I do plenty of trout lookin' in places nesting Wood Ducks should, and used to be. Appears to be less birds than in the past each year.

Dead birds don't breed...


my 2 cents
 
Vince

Your two cents is worth about ten dollars to me. But I have to say ! I think I know a thing or two about our friend the wood duck. Last year was a very good year for the wood duck around here. I seen both in the nest and in the wild proof. But I think every year its different. With over a hundred active boxes out there this year. I haven't had a chance to get out and check a lot of them do to the virus this year. But the ones that have been checked look close to last year. That does not mean all the rest have been used like the ones we have check. But I never could understand how they did the duck limits anyway. I use to have a friend at New York State ENCON. That did the fly over count every year. And he use to tell me how they would count the birds. He even said it was a joke.
Now days the weapons that can be used to count birds is so much better. So we can only hope they can get it right! As a sportsmen I always hope that those who give back make a difference. So for all you that check your nest and birds are hatching or have been hatched. With out your work those ducks that you helped wouldn't even be around. If you get a third of duck using your boxes your doing Great. I was told long ago that just over ten percent was the normal. Not saying that is true. But I did read that some where.


View attachment getPart-21.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top