By B.J. Grassmann, a citizen conservationist and Habitat Committee Chair
This article appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s March, 2025 Newsletter edition.
Whether you are maintaining a few wood duck boxes you placed in your favorite duck hole years ago or you are putting up boxes for the first time, now is the time to do so while the ice is still safe.
Legions of WWA Volunteers and citizen conservationists are taking advantage of slightly warmer weather to maintain or place boxes for the upcoming nesting season. Here are a couple helpful hints:
- Ice conditions can change quickly, be aware and be careful
- Avoid open water
- Clean out boxes with last year’s nesting activity and place new bedding (wood shavings) in each box.
- Try to place new boxes in brushy/woody areas for best occupancy
- Bring a cordless drill with some wood screws in case a box needs some TLC, to keep it working for a few more years
- Keep a log-book of nesting activity you can reference in future years
WWA sells wood duck box kits and boxes on our website. We ship to anywhere in Wisconsin.
This is an excellent activity for kids to experience the life cycle of one of North America’s most beautiful birds. And it’s fun!
This is another excellent way to get outdoors in Feb/March and improve duck numbers in Wisconsin!