Show Duck Needs Heeds Home The wood duck most colorful o of ci American waterfowl is facing a housing shortage This species prefers to nest In ta hollow t trees es but bu S1 tn in many locations Is ls P prevented vented from doing so because of h Is shortage o of natural natura cavities in trees or because those that do exist have already been taken by squirrels or coons fh And there even first Ve in if f the wood duck gets many cases the nes nest is sooner or later discovered and broken up by squirrels or coons K A 1 highly 7 satisfactory solution solution- both to the wood ducks and to people peo peo- Pie who like to have them around Is is the manmade man wood duck nest box Nest boxes should be made of ol rough lumber about an inch in thickness Galvanized nails should be used to resist rusting and should be driven into the boards at an angle to prevent t warping The covers should be tight to prevent rain seepage and fastened in such a way that the box can be easily opened for tor cleaning The box should have no finish of creosote or stain but should be allowed to weather li It will last 5 to 7 I years In the box when finished should be placed sev eral inches of clean pine shavings for nesting material Cedar poles from four to six inches in diameter are preferable for mounting the box and should be driven firmly into the marsh bot bot- tom torn This can be done very handily after ice forms by chopping a hole see photo and driving it from the ice tee The poles should be located well out L well out L into the open water area so they will not be readily accessible to a raiding raccoon or cat The nest box should be placed on the pole five to six feet above the normal water level and secured with heavy spikes or ar wire so that it will not turn or sway in the wind For the best results the boxes should be erected well before the nesting season April to July and not disturbed dis dis- during that season A A A |