In 2005 North Fork Audubon Society installed a wood duck nest box in Prentice Pond in the hopes of attracting nesting wood ducks. We are pleased to report that wood ducks successfully nested in the box for the first time during the 2007 season!
Five young fledged with two eggs left unhatched.
There are two things to take from this. First is the "if you build it they will come" scenario. Wood ducks are cavity nesters and with so much forested land having been cleared over the years and typical residential lawn care practices that remove trees suitable for the creation of new cavities wood ducks need help from us with nest boxes.
Second, while Prentice Pond is a rather small pond that just about dries up in the summer it is still very important habitat for wood ducks and other wildlife. Every little bit of open space and wetlands helps.
If anyone out there has suitable habitat for wood ducks and would be interested in putting a nest box up you may download a set of plans here, or you may contact us at info@northforkaudubon.org and we will provide you with a nest box.
See below for photos of the box and the nest.
Remnants of the hatched eggs. Note the down from the nest.
Another shot of the nest. Note the nestling ladder on the left.
The nest box in place. When installed it was actually in the water but with the dry conditions in 2007 the pond receded.
Another shot of the box in place.