Wood Duck Box - Clean-out Question

T

T Salvig

New member
Quick question on cleaning out a box - if there are eggs in the box, what are the chances they are from the Spring?

Picture was taken a week or so ago when I was looking to clean it out.
Duck Eggs-NOV23.png
 
Those look like a common type of bird egg, not duck eggs. Not sure what State you live in but in SC I would toss them when cleaning out my nesting boxes. I get different species of birds, owls and even squirrels using my nesting boxes on occasion. (jump from trees to reach the boxes and over the predator guard) It's too late in the year for nesting season here. Of course, during nesting season I let nature take it's course and whatever uses the nesting box has it for the duration.
 
What part of the world are you in? It would be odd for fresh eggs to be found this time of the year where I live here in the U.S..

BTW, the eggs in your photo are most certainly NOT eggs from a Wood duck hen. The eggs do not appear to be the correct color. The small circular arrangement of the grass is odd and typically one would expect to see an abundance of soft down lining the box, if it were being occupied by a wood duck hen.

EDIT, Paul answered while I was typing and it seems we agree.
 
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Paul Taylor said:
Those look like a common type of bird egg, not duck eggs. Not sure what State you live in but in SC I would toss them when cleaning out my nesting boxes. I get different species of birds, owls and even squirrels using my nesting boxes on occasion. (jump from trees to reach the boxes and over the predator guard) It's too late in the year for nesting season here. Of course, during nesting season I let nature take it's course and whatever uses the nesting box has it for the duration.
Click to expand...

What do squirrel eggs look like?
 
Chuck J said:
Paul Taylor said:
Those look like a common type of bird egg, not duck eggs. Not sure what State you live in but in SC I would toss them when cleaning out my nesting boxes. I get different species of birds, owls and even squirrels using my nesting boxes on occasion. (jump from trees to reach the boxes and over the predator guard) It's too late in the year for nesting season here. Of course, during nesting season I let nature take it's course and whatever uses the nesting box has it for the duration.
Click to expand...

What do squirrel eggs look like?
Click to expand...

No one actually knows, because every time someone attempts to take a photo of squirrel eggs, the photo comes up empty. Almost as if squirrel eggs are invisible. Strange isn't it.
 
Thanks Gents and after Googling, most likely they are Robin or Starling eggs; will clean out.

Box is in SE GA and pretty sure Robins just migrate through. I did hear a few last week, assume they were passing through?
 
Robins migrate from up North, a good sign that ducks should be following them soon.

I'm near Lake Murray here in Chapin SC. I maintain around 40 + duck boxes, hopefully a few of our Wood Ducks head down your way this Fall.
 
That is a lot of boxes to maintain and thanks!

Swore this past weekend those Northern birds were trained to be decoy shy!!
 
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