WHAT IS A NESTING BOX?

In Brief: Why Nesting Boxes for Wood Ducks?

• Wood Duck females build nests in tree cavities near wetlands.

• Wetlands are in decline in the United States, and Colorado is no exception. Thus, natural nesting sites are increasingly difficult for Wood Ducks to find.

• Nesting boxes are a human-made alternative to natural tree cavity nesting sites, and provide a safe location for hens to nest and raise young.

• Nesting box programs have been proven to bolster local populations. Wood Ducks were nearly extinct in the early 1900s, and nesting box programs have been credited with contributing significantly to their rebound.

More About Wood Duck Nesting Boxes

Wood duck females typically build their nests in tree cavities near wetlands. When a prospective cavity is found, a hen wood duck will land in the tree and carefully inspect the site for a variety of characteristics, including size, shape and security from predators and the elements. In many areas, wood ducks have difficulty finding suitable natural nesting sites. Wood duck boxes provide a man-made alternative, where hens can nest in relative safety from predators. The deployment of large numbers of nesting boxes can be used to help increase local or regional populations of wood ducks in areas where natural cavities are limited.

Several important factors must be considered when selecting sites to place wood duck boxes. Suitable brood habitat must be available within a couple of hundred yards in order for ducklings to survive once they exit the box. In addition, shallow, fertile wetlands with thick cover and an abundance of invertebrates typically provide the best habitat for broods. Ideally, boxes should be erected on either wooden posts or metal conduits outfitted with predator guards.

Nesting boxes must be secured to protect hens and their clutches from nest predators, especially raccoons and rat snakes. The most effective way to provide defense from these marauders is to install a predator guard on the pole supporting the box. Conical predator guards made of sheet metal are most effective. Care must be taken to ensure that the guard fits tightly against the post and that no overhanging tree limbs allow predators to bypass the predator shield.

Although duckling production from nest boxes represents only a small percentage of that produced from natural cavities, wood duck boxes provide an excellent opportunity for anyone to become involved in wildlife management. By building, installing and maintaining nest boxes, individuals can gain insight into the interesting aspects of wood duck nesting and reproduction, while helping to boost local populations.

Source: https://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-research-science/wood-duck-boxes

What is the Metal Cylinder Below the Box?

This is a predator guard, described in more detail above. Snakes, squirrels and racoons, among other predators, are always in search of fresh eggs for a meal. My project uses a “stovepipe” design predator guard. It is made of stainless steel duct pipe (24 inches long, and 8 inches in diameter), with a stainless steel duct pipe cap as a “lid.” During the construction phase of my project, volunteers drilled a 1-inch hole in the cap, which is precisely the same diameter of the metal conduit pole which supports the box. Then, volunteers bolted the cap to the duct pipe. A snake climbing the pole would have difficulty getting around the predator guard because of the tight-fitting cap. The predator guard hangs in place from a conduit clamp which is tightly fitted onto the pole. It hangs loosely from this single point of contact by design— it will swing and rattle back and forth on contact so that a squirrel or racoon would more likely lose its balance attempting to climb up the outside of the guard.

More details about the design are below.