For me personally I think the Southern Wood Duck is the most attractive bird we have on our golf course, except for our bald eagles of course. The population of the wood duck was greatly threatened in the late 1800's and early 1900's as detailed in
Staus of the Wood Duck from Ducks Unlimited but has made a comeback. Our belief in sharing the property our golf course sits on with the wildlife and waterfowl that call it "home" started a long time ago and we still hold that belief to be true today.
Several years ago we constructed 12 wood duck boxes which were placed in different areas near the water around the course. The plans for these nesting boxes are really simple to make. This plan from Ducks Unlimited is some of the best I have seen.
Wood Duck Nest Box Plans So each year in the spring we go through the course and repair any damage to the boxes and install new bedding material (cedar shavings) to help the ducks out. Wood ducks are extremely timid and will abandon nests built in tree knot holes if threatened so installing these nest boxes over the water where predators can't get to them give them a greater chance of nesting success.
Our wood duck boxes have been very successful over the years. We have provided a safe and suitable nesting habitat for these waterfowl for just a very limited investment in material and time. Installing these nest boxes has allowed for the wood duck population around our golf course to grow like the hatchlings in this photo.
Our next step might be to add a
nest box cam so we can watch the nesting process and to continue to promote the environmental benefit of golf courses and the superintendents who manage them.
If we can assist or encourage any others to protect and promote the wood duck population please let us know. Happy Birding!!!
