May 23, 2019 at 3:12 pm
By Regional Wildlife Biologist Chuck Hulsey
Over the next couple of weeks little puff-ball feathered creatures will heed their mother’s calls and leap from where they just hatched, to the world below. Wood ducks, hooded mergansers, and American goldeneye are the best known of Maine’s cavity-nesting waterfowl. Natural tree cavities near or over water are prime real estate for these ducks. They offer excellent protection from predators and harsh weather. However, the abundance of natural cavities can be limiting.
For decades now, wildlife biologists and conservation groups have made and deployed artificial nesting cavities, commonly called ‘wood duck boxes’. With correct placement and maintenance, waterfowl nest boxes can significantly increase nesting success. Annual cleaning is important to reduce the build-up of ectoparasites (on outside of body) on chicks, which can be lethal. More important is the presence of a functioning predator guard on the post or tree below the box. Granted, mother nature does not provide these, but natural cavities may be 30 feet above ground or water.
Regional wildlife biologists for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife deploy and maintain many hundreds of waterfowl nest boxes on department Wildlife Management Areas. A nest box made from wood can last 20 years. Many of these areas were purchased with the help of federal funds with waterfowl production being a primary objective.
The author’s lab Macky sitting beside the waterfowl nest boxes made this winter from some of the pine lumber donated by Irving Forest Products in Dixfield. The rest will be made next winter.
The material of choice for boxes is one-inch thick, rough-sawn, 12-inch wide white pine boards. MDIFW Fish and Wildlife Technician Paul Campbell in Region D heads up the effort to build nest boxes for all seven biological regions. This year Paul sought a local lumber source so he visited the Irving Forest Products mill in Dixfield to check on availability and price. The news was both good and great from Manager Derek Bryant. They could provide us with lumber we needed for three dozen waterfowl nest boxes, but wanted to make it a donation. So, many thanks to the Irving Forest Products in Dixfield.
Click here to view a video of wildlife biologists conducting maintenance to duck boxes in Brownfield, ME.