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Need info about wood ducks

16 years ago

I have a small farm pond (details and picture at link bellow). Is it suitable for wood ducks? Should I install a nest box to attract them? If yes, what month do they nest in NC? Any starling resistant designs? By the way, the starlings are almost finished nesting here so if wood ducks don't nests early in the spring - I guess it wouldn't be a problem.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/ponds/msg0511454827570.html

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Comments (6)

Connie Kru
16 years ago
Our nest boxes are at a pond that is similar to yours.
We occasionally have Starlings tying to nest in the box, but I just open the door to the box for a day or two and they find other places to nest. The ducks are also pretty aggressive and hold their own.
Make sure your box is not so high that you can not check it.
Also make sure your box has a door on the back and not the top, so that you can see in when you need too.
I do not know when your nesting season is, but for here in lower Michigan it is early spring for the first nesting and early to mid summer for a second nesting.
Good Luck
calliope
16 years ago
We have kept three decrepit scrag trees near our pond because they are very popular with cavity dwellers and found wood ducks checking them out one day last summer. They are way cool birds.
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starlinka
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for answers! We made nest box for ducks already, but didn't install it yet. We have hot summers here - should I paint it white? I'm not sure if ducks tolerant this color. Also, for other birdhouses I use the "insulating" kind of roof - double roof like on the picture below for sun protection. Should I install it on this nest box too?
Connie Kru
16 years ago
I am not sure if they would like the white. But the double roof sounds like a good idea. I can see our ducks almost panting on our really warm days.
We should have more babies this next week.
Elly_NJ
16 years ago
I think they need to be in a wooded area? They don't nest in the open.
Connie Kru
16 years ago
Elly
Our boxes are in our yard around the pond. We have woods behind us but not where the boxes are.

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