2021 Wood Duck Box - Spring Maintenance

A close call from a fallen oak tree

 Wood ducks are among the first creatures to pair up in order to begin nesting, and they often getting a jump start on Spring by setting up shop in February. All veteran gamekeepers and landowners that are in the habit of maintaining wood duck boxes understand that these annual chores begin almost right after duck season ends. The commitment to keep the wood duck boxes in a clean condition is a way of helping woodies maintain a sustainable population. Also, these hands on chores often produce memorable encounters with other wildlife species that are memorable and 2021 was no different.

I finished the spring maintenance on seven wood ducks boxes by February 5. This is accomplished by purchasing pine chips for nest box bedding, donning hip boots, and wading out into the swamp with a step ladder to access the top of the box which opens. At my first stop I found a dead and dried up wood duck hen inside the wood duck box. It was a startling find, and its a mystery to me how she ended up deceased inside a box with a predator guard on it, but that it part of the mystery of nature. I cleaned out the bedding and found three unhatched eggs too, and it is very common to find a few eggs to remove. 

A dead wood duck hen I found inside box

The last box I cleaned out seems to be full of pine straw, which is not uncommon as birds may nest in these boxes after the wood ducks vacate them in early Spring. However, another surprise crawled out from under the straw when a Southern flying squirrel emerged and hurled himself towards a nearby tree. This nocturnal creature looked sluggish but I deemed it to be in no danger, and decided to shut the box lid and did not disturb the contents anymore. At then end of these chores it was time to head to the house and change clothes since my pants were muddy and a little wet too from the slogging through the swamp in the name of wildlife stewardship.

To view past blog entries on wood duck boxes click 2020 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 

Fresh Bedding applied inside box

Typical wood duck box maintenance set up