WOOD DUCK PROGRAM

Producing Wood Ducks and Conservationists

Goals:
Provide waterfowl and wetlands education
Enhance forested riparian habitats
Increase California’s resident wood duck population



Project Spotlight: The Biggest Box Building Day EVER!

This fall CWA prepared for one of the largest scale Wood Duck nest box building operations it had ever seen. The goal: 250 wood duck boxes in approximately seven hours at Scout Expo 2007. To learn whether they reached their goal or not, click here>>


About CWA’s Wood Duck Program

The Concern
In California, wood duck habitat has been drastically reduced. Only 5% of historical forested wetlands remain in California’s Central Valley. The Central Valley is believed to be the most important wintering and nesting area for wood ducks in the Pacific Flyway.

CWA's Approach
Wood ducks are unusual ducks because they nest in the cavities of trees, along waterways such as rivers, creeks, and ponds. In California, 95 percent of these habitats have been lost. Luckily, wood ducks will also nest in man-made boxes. CWA coordinates the most extensive volunteer nest box program in the nation, hatching more than 30,000 ducklings each year. Equally important are the educational values of this program and the work that goes into restoring the duck’s riparian habitats. To learn more about the Wood Duck Program, click here>>

More Details
Recent Accomplishments
Learn more about Wood Duck Needs
Program Partners
Wood Duck Box Plans
State Project Map
Program Advisors

 
 

HABITAT NEWS

Of the more than 30,000 acres of habitat projects statewide in 2006, roughly 10 percent (3,000 acres) were restored or enhanced riparian wetland habitats. Nearly 35,000 ducklings hatched from managed nest boxes, reaching a cumulative program total of 470,000 ducklings.

 

SCIENCE

Wood duck hens often lay their eggs in another hen’s nest. New research techniques compare this behavior between nest boxes and natural cavities. To learn about the implications for habitat management, click here>>

 

POLITICS & EDUCATION

The best way to learn about wood ducks is to get involved! CWA has all the information you need to get started and boxes for sale too. To learn more, click here>>