Wood Ducks At a Glance

Today, the wood duck is considered by many to be the most beautiful duck in North America. The beauty, reclusive nature, and peculiar nesting behavior of the wood duck creates an irresistible curiosity that is seldom experienced with more obvious species. Biologists have estimated there to be 60,000 breeding wood ducks in the Pacific Flyway and 76,000 in the Central Flyway. In contrast, Utah’s Wood Duck Population is estimated at less than 3000. On a larger scale, it is estimated that nearly 100,000 wood duck nesting boxes produce 300,000 ducklings annually in North America. While the use of these nesting boxes varies, the influence of availability of suitable cavities within the proximity of wetlands, essential to the wood duck habits, properly maintained structures will have an over all increased effect to the local wood duck population.

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Wild Over Wood Ducks Nest Box Program

For many years, Utah’s wood duck population has gone unchecked. During the flood years of the 80’s, a major portion of the wood ducks habitat was destroyed, resulting in a loss of natural cavities so vital for nesting success. In 2009, the Wild Over Wood Ducks (WOW) program introduced 300 (artificial) nesting cavities in key locations, throughout Utah’s waterways and riparian areas: In 2011, we are closing in on 1000 boxes placed! Properly set and maintained, these wood duck nesting boxes will provide secure cavities and eliminate predation, thus providing two key elements to the long term success of Utah’s wood duck population.

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Leading The Way

Science has proven the benefits of an effective nest box program. The potential to increase Utah’s wood duck production motivated WOW to initiate a state wide nest box program.

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Looking Ahead

WOW is the first large scale wood duck nesting program of its kind here in Utah. In addition to raising nest productivity, this multitude of nesting cavities will provide a forum for education; WOW continues to forge relationships with state and local agencies, project volunteers and land owners at various levels. Further, WOW and it’s partners continue to research the effects from this introduction of habitat on Utah’s wood duck population.

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