The Wood DuckThe Wood Duckand it’s conservation and it’s conservation

By By Matt MaguetMatt Maguet

History of the Wood History of the Wood DuckDuck

Many consder the wood duck to be North Many consder the wood duck to be North America’s most colorful waterfowl.America’s most colorful waterfowl.

Today the wood duck is one of the most Today the wood duck is one of the most common waterfowl in the United Sates.common waterfowl in the United Sates.

This was not always the case. This was not always the case. In the early 19In the early 19thth century, they were very century, they were very

abundant and were taken for their meat and abundant and were taken for their meat and feathers.feathers.

In the late 1880’s, unregulated hunting and In the late 1880’s, unregulated hunting and the destruction of woodland and wetland the destruction of woodland and wetland habitat caused the wood duck population to habitat caused the wood duck population to decline rapidly.decline rapidly.

History of the Wood History of the Wood DuckDuck

They were rare to see by the They were rare to see by the beginning of the 20beginning of the 20thth century and on century and on their way to extinction.their way to extinction.

The wood duck was able to recover The wood duck was able to recover due to the Federal Migratory Bird due to the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act which stopped the Treaty Act which stopped the hunting of the wood duck nation hunting of the wood duck nation wide and then was re-opened for wide and then was re-opened for hunting in 1941.hunting in 1941.

ClassificationClassification

Kingdom: AnimaliaKingdom: Animalia Phylum: ChordataPhylum: Chordata Class: AvesClass: Aves Order: AnseriformesOrder: Anseriformes Family: AnatidaeFamily: Anatidae Subfamily: AnatinaeSubfamily: Anatinae Tribe: CairininiTribe: Cairinini Genus: AixGenus: Aix Species: Aix sponsaSpecies: Aix sponsa

DescriptionDescription

Length: 19-21 inLength: 19-21 in Wingspan: 26-29 inWingspan: 26-29 in Weight: 16-30 ouncesWeight: 16-30 ounces - - medium-sized duckmedium-sized duck

DescriptionDescription

Male (breeding) Plumage (Fall to Male (breeding) Plumage (Fall to early summer)early summer)

Red billRed bill Red eyeRed eye Green headGreen head White stripes on face and crest with large white White stripes on face and crest with large white

throat patchthroat patch Dark reddish breast Dark reddish breast White belly White belly Iridescent dark green-blue back and wingsIridescent dark green-blue back and wings Golden flanksGolden flanks

DescriptionDescription

Male Plumage Male Plumage (non-breeding)(non-breeding)

Male is gray like the Male is gray like the female female

Has red eyeHas red eye Has red beakHas red beak Distinctive white patchDistinctive white patch

DescriptionDescription

FemaleFemale Gray billGray bill White teardrop shaped patch around eyeWhite teardrop shaped patch around eye White throatWhite throat Gray-brown head and neckGray-brown head and neck Gray-brown breast and white bellyGray-brown breast and white belly Dark brown backDark brown back

Food SourceFood Source

Wood Ducks are omnivoresWood Ducks are omnivores NutsNuts FruitsFruits Aquatic plantsAquatic plants SeedsSeeds Aquatic insectsAquatic insects Other invertebrates (e.g. snails and Other invertebrates (e.g. snails and

slugs)slugs)

HabitatHabitat

Woodland areas along Woodland areas along Lakes Lakes RiversRivers CreeksCreeks Beaver and farm pondsBeaver and farm ponds Other freshwater vegetated wetland areasOther freshwater vegetated wetland areas

RangeRange

ReproductionReproduction

The wood Duck breeds in Feb. and early The wood Duck breeds in Feb. and early MarchMarch

Two broods are produced in southern Two broods are produced in southern areasareas

Copulation occurs in the waterCopulation occurs in the water

CopualationCopualation

Step 1Step 1

Step 2Step 2

Step 3Step 3

Step 4Step 4

Nest and ClutchNest and Clutch

Wood Ducks nest in tree cavitiesWood Ducks nest in tree cavities 6-15 eggs per clutch6-15 eggs per clutch Nests are lined with wood chips and Nests are lined with wood chips and

downdown Eggs incubate for about 30 daysEggs incubate for about 30 days Ducklings hatch 6 to 18 hours after Ducklings hatch 6 to 18 hours after

their shell is cracked.their shell is cracked. Leave nest within 24 hoursLeave nest within 24 hours

Lifespan/LongevityLifespan/Longevity

Average life span is three to four Average life span is three to four yearsyears

Around 85 % of chicks die within the Around 85 % of chicks die within the first two weeks of hatching due to first two weeks of hatching due to mainly predation.mainly predation.

Known predators are…Known predators are… Red and Gray foxesRed and Gray foxes RaccoonsRaccoons AlligatorsAlligators Rat and Black snakesRat and Black snakes

HarvestHarvest

Wood Ducks make up around 10% of Wood Ducks make up around 10% of yearly duck harvest in the U.S.yearly duck harvest in the U.S.

22ndnd to Mallards to Mallards In 2000 and 2001 1 to 1.3 million In 2000 and 2001 1 to 1.3 million

wood ducks were harvested.wood ducks were harvested.

Conservation of the Conservation of the Wood DuckWood Duck

Conservation status is (lc) Lower Conservation status is (lc) Lower riskrisk

Estimated population is around 2 Estimated population is around 2 million although it is hard to million although it is hard to estimate. estimate.

Conservation MeasuresConservation Measures

Daily Bag limitDaily Bag limit Limit is 2 in KY.Limit is 2 in KY. Two in most of other statesTwo in most of other states

Wood Duck Nest BoxesWood Duck Nest Boxes Estimated 300,000 nest boxes produce 100,000 Estimated 300,000 nest boxes produce 100,000

ducklings annuallyducklings annually Can increase populations in areas where the Can increase populations in areas where the

female has a hard time finding a nest.female has a hard time finding a nest. Can also help the survival of ducklingsCan also help the survival of ducklings Private landowners helped re-populate by putting Private landowners helped re-populate by putting

up nest boxes.up nest boxes.

Nest box designNest box design Nest boxes should be made of weather resistant wood Nest boxes should be made of weather resistant wood

such as cedar or cypress.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 A 3 inch wide strip of ¼ -inch mesh hardware cloth

should be fastened to the inside of the box under the should be fastened to the inside of the box under the entrance to be a ladder for the hen and the new entrance to be a ladder for the hen and the new ducklings. ducklings.

The cut edges of the cloth should be folded back to The cut edges of the cloth should be folded back to avoid injury to the ducklings.avoid injury to the ducklings.

Saw dust should be put in the bottom for nesting Saw dust should be put in the bottom for nesting material.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 It should be fitted with a galvanized sheet metal

predator guard. predator guard.

Nest box designNest box design

Wood Duck ManagementWood Duck Management

FoodFood Plant and preserve trees, shrubs, and Plant and preserve trees, shrubs, and

herbaceous food.herbaceous food. Establish shallow water areas and artificial Establish shallow water areas and artificial

wetlands.wetlands. Supply winter water on cropland and Supply winter water on cropland and

woodland.woodland.

Nesting CoverNesting Cover Provide nesting boxes near wetlands.Provide nesting boxes near wetlands. Preserve old growth timber conducive to tree Preserve old growth timber conducive to tree

cavities.cavities.

MangementMangement

Brood-rearing coverBrood-rearing cover Restore hydrology on drained forested Restore hydrology on drained forested

wetlandwetland Restore hydrology and vegetation on Restore hydrology and vegetation on

drained and cropped wetland.drained and cropped wetland. Put vegetation near streamsPut vegetation near streams

WaterWater Establish bottomland hardwood Establish bottomland hardwood

FactsFacts

The ducklings jump to the ground out The ducklings jump to the ground out of the nest as their mother calls them.of the nest as their mother calls them.

She does not help in any wayShe does not help in any way They can jump close to 300 feet They can jump close to 300 feet

without getting hurt.without getting hurt. The wood duck is the only North The wood duck is the only North

American Duck that regularly American Duck that regularly produces two broods in a year.produces two broods in a year.

Kentucky Wood Duck Kentucky Wood Duck Hunting SeasonHunting Season

Season Dates: September 21-25 Season Dates: September 21-25 Daily limit: 2Daily limit: 2 Possession limit: 4Possession limit: 4

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