|
Post by JeffOver on Apr 7, 2008 7:40:55 GMT -8
A pair of wood ducks decided to check out my feeders yesterday and today. Let me qualify that by saying that only the female has actually been in the feeder. I think I may buy a wood duck birdhouse today and try putting it up. --Jeff
|
|
|
Post by JeffOver on May 21, 2008 18:06:04 GMT -8
A little update on the wood ducks at our place. For a while they came regularly to the feeders--one day we counted three pairs! After I bought a wood duck nesting box, a pair started visiting it in the mornings and evenings. The male would always stand on top while the female was inside. This went on for probably about two weeks--because they only visited in the mornings and evenings I figured they were maybe using the nest box as a decoy--since I thought the eggs wouldn't survive unless they were kept warm all day. One day I carefully opened the box to see what was inside--when the ducks were gone of course. There were two eggs. I was still skeptical, however, because I thought there was no way the eggs would survive. Then I learned that the female first lays all her eggs, and then (I'm not clear how this works) I think the female incubates the eggs. Well, in the last week and a half, the female has been in the nest box with no male partner to be seen. I'm hoping for a successful hatching in the next two or three weeks. Unfortunately, whenevers someone goes near the box to dump some grass clippings or other compost in the back, the female usually flies out of the box because of fear. She's scared me a couple of times with her sudden departure! Hopefully she'll stay and there will be several young wood ducks in the near future. I'm also hoping that if the farmer starts working the field the ducks won't be too disturbed. Here's a picture my Mom got of her poking her head out. --Jeff Overduin
|
|
|
Post by Gord on May 29, 2008 22:26:19 GMT -8
Jeff, overlooked this post! Nice work getting them in a box so quickly! Looks like she'll certainly hatch some young ones and walk them over to the pond at the school Im guessing.
Honestly, I wouldnt have thought you'd get nesting Wood Ducks there! I might be misguided but I would have said Long-billed Curlews (not using a box of course ;D ;D) flying past your yard over nesting Woodies!
Keep us posted! Thanks for sharing that no matter where you are, you can help out the wildlife.
|
|
|
Post by JeffOver on Jul 5, 2008 18:30:04 GMT -8
Well, this is probably the end of this thread for 2008. When the female wood duck suddenly disappeared early last week, I thought "bummer, she left without hatching any young ones." Today the thought occurred to me that maybe she had been killed! A terrible thought I know--but it is reality, what with hawks, eagles, raccoons, and other such creatures around. Anyway, I checked out the nest box this evening and felt an unhatched egg. So I thought my suspicions were confirmed--the female had abandoned the nest. Then I started feeling for other eggs, and to my surprise, and subsequent delight, I found only shells! It's hard to tell how many there were with all the tangled wood shavings, down, and eggs shells, but from the looks of it I think at least 3 hatched! I guess they simply snuck off one day--too bad we missed it. I'm surprised we did miss it, as once the female seemed to stay in the nest more readily, I would creep up and put my ear to the box listening for sounds from little ducklings, but I never heard a peep so I assumed they just hadn't hatched yet. Hopefully they're all okay now! Perhaps I should take a stroll over to Leary Park to see if I can find them! I look forward to next year. Have a good Sunday! --Jeff Overduin
|
|
|
Post by Gord on Jul 7, 2008 20:03:44 GMT -8
Thanks for the update, Jeff, and congrats on the successful nesting! Dont feel bad missing them. The process between hatching and jumping out of the box is very short. Probably started hatching very early in the morning and were gone before you got up! I believe the reason for hatching early in the morning is to ensure plenty of daylight for the hatching, drying out, getting the nerve to jump out of the box and, finally, the overland walk to the nearest body of water.
Hope you get to see them over at the park!
|
|