The Wood Duck and it’s conservation By Matt Maguet

History of the Wood Duck Many consder the wood duck to be North America’s most colorful waterfowl. Many consder the wood duck to be North America’s most colorful waterfowl. Today the wood duck is one of the most common waterfowl in the United Sates. Today the wood duck is one of the most common waterfowl in the United Sates. This was not always the case. This was not always the case. In the early 19 th century, they were very abundant and were taken for their meat and feathers. In the early 19 th century, they were very abundant and were taken for their meat and feathers. In the late 1880’s, unregulated hunting and the destruction of woodland and wetland habitat caused the wood duck population to decline rapidly. In the late 1880’s, unregulated hunting and the destruction of woodland and wetland habitat caused the wood duck population to decline rapidly.

History of the Wood Duck They were rare to see by the beginning of the 20 th century and on their way to extinction. They were rare to see by the beginning of the 20 th century and on their way to extinction. The wood duck was able to recover due to the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act which stopped the hunting of the wood duck nation wide and then was re-opened for hunting in The wood duck was able to recover due to the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act which stopped the hunting of the wood duck nation wide and then was re-opened for hunting in 1941.

Classification Kingdom: Animalia Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Family: Anatidae Subfamily: Anatinae Subfamily: Anatinae Tribe: Cairinini Tribe: Cairinini Genus: Aix Genus: Aix Species: Aix sponsa Species: Aix sponsa

Description Length: in Length: in Wingspan: in Wingspan: in Weight: ounces Weight: ounces - medium-sized duck - medium-sized duck

Description Male (breeding) Plumage (Fall to early summer) Male (breeding) Plumage (Fall to early summer) Red bill Red bill Red eye Red eye Green head Green head White stripes on face and crest with large white throat patch White stripes on face and crest with large white throat patch Dark reddish breast Dark reddish breast White belly White belly Iridescent dark green-blue back and wings Iridescent dark green-blue back and wings Golden flanks Golden flanks

Description Male Plumage (non- breeding) Male Plumage (non- breeding) Male is gray like the female Male is gray like the female Has red eye Has red eye Has red beak Has red beak Distinctive white patch Distinctive white patch

Description Female Female Gray bill Gray bill White teardrop shaped patch around eye White teardrop shaped patch around eye White throat White throat Gray-brown head and neck Gray-brown head and neck Gray-brown breast and white belly Gray-brown breast and white belly Dark brown back Dark brown back

Food Source Wood Ducks are omnivores Wood Ducks are omnivores Nuts Nuts Fruits Fruits Aquatic plants Aquatic plants Seeds Seeds Aquatic insects Aquatic insects Other invertebrates (e.g. snails and slugs) Other invertebrates (e.g. snails and slugs)

Habitat Woodland areas along Woodland areas along Lakes Lakes Rivers Rivers Creeks Creeks Beaver and farm ponds Beaver and farm ponds Other freshwater vegetated wetland areas Other freshwater vegetated wetland areas

Range

Reproduction The wood Duck breeds in Feb. and early March The wood Duck breeds in Feb. and early March Two broods are produced in southern areas Two broods are produced in southern areas Copulation occurs in the water Copulation occurs in the water

Copualation Step 1 Step 1

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Nest and Clutch Wood Ducks nest in tree cavities Wood Ducks nest in tree cavities 6-15 eggs per clutch 6-15 eggs per clutch Nests are lined with wood chips and down Nests are lined with wood chips and down Eggs incubate for about 30 days Eggs incubate for about 30 days Ducklings hatch 6 to 18 hours after their shell is cracked. Ducklings hatch 6 to 18 hours after their shell is cracked. Leave nest within 24 hours Leave nest within 24 hours

Lifespan/Longevity Average life span is three to four years Average life span is three to four years Around 85 % of chicks die within the first two weeks of hatching due to mainly predation. Around 85 % of chicks die within the first two weeks of hatching due to mainly predation. Known predators are… Known predators are… Red and Gray foxes Red and Gray foxes Raccoons Raccoons Alligators Alligators Rat and Black snakes Rat and Black snakes

Harvest Wood Ducks make up around 10% of yearly duck harvest in the U.S. Wood Ducks make up around 10% of yearly duck harvest in the U.S. 2 nd to Mallards 2 nd to Mallards In 2000 and to 1.3 million wood ducks were harvested. In 2000 and to 1.3 million wood ducks were harvested.

Conservation of the Wood Duck Conservation status is (lc) Lower risk Conservation status is (lc) Lower risk Estimated population is around 2 million although it is hard to estimate. Estimated population is around 2 million although it is hard to estimate.

Conservation Measures Daily Bag limit Daily Bag limit Limit is 2 in KY. Limit is 2 in KY. Two in most of other states Two in most of other states Wood Duck Nest Boxes Wood Duck Nest Boxes Estimated 300,000 nest boxes produce 100,000 ducklings annually Estimated 300,000 nest boxes produce 100,000 ducklings annually Can increase populations in areas where the female has a hard time finding a nest. Can increase populations in areas where the female has a hard time finding a nest. Can also help the survival of ducklings Can also help the survival of ducklings Private landowners helped re-populate by putting up nest boxes. Private landowners helped re-populate by putting up nest boxes.

Nest box design Nest boxes should be made of weather resistant wood such as cedar or cypress. Nest boxes should be made of weather resistant wood such as cedar or cypress. The entrance hole should be 4 inches in diameter. The entrance hole should be 4 inches in diameter. A 3 inch wide strip of ¼ -inch mesh hardware cloth should be fastened to the inside of the box under the entrance to be a ladder for the hen and the new ducklings. A 3 inch wide strip of ¼ -inch mesh hardware cloth should be fastened to the inside of the box under the entrance to be a ladder for the hen and the new ducklings. The cut edges of the cloth should be folded back to avoid injury to the ducklings. The cut edges of the cloth should be folded back to avoid injury to the ducklings. Saw dust should be put in the bottom for nesting material. Saw dust should be put in the bottom for nesting material. One side of the box should be removable for cleaning. One side of the box should be removable for cleaning. It should be fitted with a galvanized sheet metal predator guard. It should be fitted with a galvanized sheet metal predator guard.

Nest box design

Wood Duck Management Food Food Plant and preserve trees, shrubs, and herbaceous food. Plant and preserve trees, shrubs, and herbaceous food. Establish shallow water areas and artificial wetlands. Establish shallow water areas and artificial wetlands. Supply winter water on cropland and woodland. Supply winter water on cropland and woodland. Nesting Cover Nesting Cover Provide nesting boxes near wetlands. Provide nesting boxes near wetlands. Preserve old growth timber conducive to tree cavities. Preserve old growth timber conducive to tree cavities.

Mangement Brood-rearing cover Brood-rearing cover Restore hydrology on drained forested wetland Restore hydrology on drained forested wetland Restore hydrology and vegetation on drained and cropped wetland. Restore hydrology and vegetation on drained and cropped wetland. Put vegetation near streams Put vegetation near streams Water Water Establish bottomland hardwood Establish bottomland hardwood

Facts The ducklings jump to the ground out of the nest as their mother calls them. The ducklings jump to the ground out of the nest as their mother calls them. She does not help in any way She does not help in any way They can jump close to 300 feet without getting hurt. They can jump close to 300 feet without getting hurt. The wood duck is the only North American Duck that regularly produces two broods in a year. The wood duck is the only North American Duck that regularly produces two broods in a year.

Kentucky Wood Duck Hunting Season Season Dates: September Season Dates: September Daily limit: 2 Daily limit: 2 Possession limit: 4 Possession limit: 4

How much wood could a wood duck chuck if a wood duck could chuck wood?