Number 6

Distributed in furtheranceof the acts of Congress ofMay 8 and June 30, 1914.Employment and program

opportunities are offered toall people regardless of

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North Carolina StateUniversity, North CarolinaA & T State University, USDepartment of Agriculture,

and local governments

HABITAT REQUIREMENTSWood ducks depend upon forestedwetland habitat for food and cover,although marshes are also used.Breeding range must have trees fornesting cavities and food nearpermanent freshwater lakes andstreams. Brushy borders areimportant for nesting and brooding.Swampy areas with cypress andgum are premium for roosting. Thebest habitat contains mast-producing hardwoods that borderstreams and permanent fresh-waterlakes. Many beaver ponds provideideal wood duck habitat.

Spring SuAcorns xHickory Nuts -Waterlily Seeds xDuckweed -Mannagrass -Ash -Blackgum xWater Elm -Coontail Seed -Buttercup -Bidens -Muskgrass -Invertebrates xSmartweed -

FoodThe diet of the wood duck includeshard and soft mast, insects, aquaticinvertebrates (mollusks, snails,etc.), aquatic plants and seeds.Mast is the fruit of trees and shrubs,such as acorns, nuts, & berries.Wood ducks feed on landconsiderable distances from openwater.

North CarolinaCooperative Extension ServiceNorth Carolina State UniversityCollege of Agriculture & Life SciencesCollege of Forest Resources

mmer Fall Winter- x x- - x- x x- x x- x -- - x- x -- x x- x x- x -- x x- - xx - -x x -

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CoverNesting habitat requires areas of floodedshrubs, trees, or both, in approximately 1:1ratio of plant cover to open water. Trees orshrubs overhanging water will suffice. Covershould remain available from Februarythrough May. Nesting cavities should bewithin 1/2 mile from water. Mature trees of16" in diameter or more are the primarysource of cavities, although nest boxesmake a good substitute. Maintain at leastone cavity for every 5 acres of woodlands.Adequate food must be available.

Nesting requires cavities or nest boxes.Wood ducks prefer to use cavities alreadymade by woodpeckers and squirrels,although any cavity is acceptable. Theentrance should be no larger than 4" andthe cavity large enough to support anaverage of 11 young. Protecting previouslyused nests is very important. Oncesuccessful, a female will nest in the samecavity year after year.

Home RangeDue to the migratory and mobile nature ofthe wood duck, home range is difficult todefine. The average feeding radius is 25 to30 miles every day. Annual migrationsreach hundreds of miles.

Because of the mobility and migratoryhabits of waterfowl, home range is not aconsideration in forest habitat managementexcept in terms of the brood-rearing andnesting requirementsdiscussed above, andfeeding radius.

.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Wood D

IMPROVING WOOD DUCKHABITAT

Mature Hardwood:♦ Retain hardwood or mixed pine/hardwood types

♦ Keep 1/3 of tract in 50 year or older trees

♦ In pine types, create or retain hardwood patches (5 acres or more)

♦ Maintain a distribution of age classes, especially along water edges

Mast Production:♦ Control understory by mechanical methods

♦ Protect areas of mast production

♦ Plant mast producing trees, especially along streambanks and ponds

Intermediate Treatments:♦ Thin frequently (8 to 10 years) for crown development

♦ Favor mast species in thinnings

♦ Favor red oaks over white oaks by a ratio of 2:1

♦ Do not chemically treat grape vines

Working With Wildlife # 6 - Wood Duck

uck

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N.C.

WOOD DUCK NEST CONSTRUCTION

Cost share assistance may be available throughthe Stewardship Incentive Program for thesepractices. See your Wildlife Biologist, Forester, orExtension Agent for more information about theForest Stewardship Program.

Direct Improvements:♦ Retain all oaks overhanging water♦ Retain all identified cavity trees within 1/2 mile of water♦ Plant mast species in wetlands areas.♦ Leave small areas of unharvested cropland near wetlands and open water♦ Temporarily flood hardwood stands or farm fields during winter months to attract ducks for hunting and overwintering (consult appropriate authorities before flooding land)♦ Protect all secluded ponds, marshes, and beaver ponds♦ Erect nest boxes where cavity trees are lacking

Cooperative Extension Service Working With Wildlife # 6 - Wood Duck

Prepared by: Edwin J Jones, Department Extension Leader,Mark A. Megalos, Extension Forestry Specialist,

Michael S. Mitchell, Graduate Research Assistant

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Species That Benefit From Wood Duck ManagementMany game and nongame species with habitat requirements similar to wood ducks benefit fromwood duck management. Management plans should emphasize the community of species that sharewood duck habitat. Wood duck associates include:

Mallard Black Duck Pileated WoodpeckerHooded Merganser Bullfrogs Painted TurtleRed-bellied Watersnake Kingfisher Red-headed WoodpeckerGreat Blue Heron Muskrat BeaverYellow-rumped Warbler Swamp Sparrow Screech OwlProthonotary Warbler

N.C.

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Other Wildlife Notes Available:No. 1 - Endangered Species No. 14 - Snags and Downed LogsNo. 2 - Eastern Gray Squirrel No. 15 - Managing Edges for WildlifeNo. 3 - White-tailed Deer No. 16 - Building Songbird BoxesNo. 4 - Songbirds No. 17 - Woodland Wildlife Nest BoxesNo. 5 - Wild Turkey No. 18 - Low Cost Habitat ImprovementsNo. 6 - Wood Duck No. 19 - Pools for AmphibiansNo. 7 - Cottontail Rabbit No. 20 - Hummingbirds and ButterfliesNo. 8 - Bobwhite Quail No. 21 - BatsNo. 9 - Ruffed Grouse No. 22 - OwlsNo. 10 - Black Bear No. 23 - Managing Beaver PondsNo. 11 - Raccoon No. 24 - Herbaceous Plants for WildlifeNo. 12 - Mourning Dove No. 25 - SIP Wildlife OpportunitiesNo. 13 - Wildlife Terms

Cooperative Extension Service Working With Wildlife # 6 - Wood Duck

FOREST STEWARDSHIPa cooperative program for

improving and maintaining all of theresources on private forestland

4-4M-WWW-6

ood Duck Nest Box” Design on page 3 courtesy of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.