Back then most wood duck boxes were set in trees, and Duckman's washer was an especially valuable aid in achieving that chore. What's unique about the washer is that it has a keyhole-shaped center ...

E.G. Kingsford (1917) was camping near a wood duck tree nest in Michigan and wrote, “…one morning before sunrise she flew by from the tree to the river with a little duck in her beak… ...

Unlike some water birds, such as herons, that build stick nests in trees, wood ducks use cavities. Since they aren't equipped to excavate their own holes, they use preexisting openings.

Wood ducks are one of a relatively few North American waterfowl species that utilize hollow areas to lay and hatch eggs. The human-made nest boxes are placed on poles and situated in or along water.

Last winter, Mass Wildlife put out a request for wood duck nest boxes. Following the appeal, Boy Scouts, sportsmen, school groups, lumber companies, and other conservationists generously answered the ...

“Wood Ducks saw massive declines across North America during the 19th and early 20th centuries due to forest loss which led to fewer available nesting tree cavities,” Boparai writes.

The wood duck nest box was hatched, and it has had an enormously positive impact on Woodie conservation. Thousands of boxes dot North American wetlands, helping to spawn legions of fuzzy ducklings.

Duck bills are not made for excavating cavities in trees, so the female wood duck must find a ready-made nest site. That can be an old pileated woodpecker nest, or an otherwise naturally occurring ...

“Nesting season typically starts in late January or early February,” says Frank. “Once the mother lays her eggs, it takes about 28 days for them to hatch.

Nest boxes played a key role in the relatively rapid recovery of wood ducks following implementation of hunting regulations. The rocket-shaped structures mounted on poles or trees are common ...

The young stay in their nest box or tree cavity the day they hatch, even if it's in the morning, and then leave the next morning. Around 8 a.m. is a popular time for young wood ducks to jump.