Wood Ducks

Photo © 2005 Jim Jung and licensors. All rights reserved.

Wood Ducks are our most colorful ducks and one of the most colorful birds in our avifauna. After nearly being wiped out in the early 20th century by overhunting and habitat loss they've staged a remarkable comeback - thanks to the hard work of conservationists and the coordinated efforts of state and federal game agencies - and are now one of the most commonly encountered ducks in our area.

Wood Ducks are unique among our ducks in that they nest exclusively in large cavities near water. Before swamps and other wetlands were drained, cleared and put to the plow Wood Ducks were common. But as the ancient hollow trees they nested in were cleared away these birds found it difficult to raise a family, and with no ducklings to fill in the gaps in populations the species began to dwindle away.

Fortunately our species devised a substitute that the Wood Ducks found acceptable - large wooden boxes with big openings positioned over deep water - now a common sight in lakes and ponds everywhere.

Offsite Links:

• Ruby would like to recommend a lovely book for children of all ages: Rabbit goes Duck Hunting, a Cherokee legend involving the King of the Wood Ducks, retold by Deborah Duvall with pen-and-ink illustrations by Murv Jacob which captured Ruby's heart, available for purchase at their website, www.jacobandduvall.com

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