By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s April, 2022 Newsletter edition.

Delta Waterfowl volunteer, Eric Johnson, and WWA president, Bruce Urben, joined forces recently to quickly get wood duck box into the field.  Eric had more houses than his volunteers would be able to hang this year, and WWA was experiencing low inventory – with a greater demand for the boxes than we could fill.  Viola – a partnership opportunity!

WWA was able to buy the houses at a discount and quickly distribute them to our anxiously awaiting chapter volunteers to build and hang.  Any remaining kits will be sold and shipped to Wisconsinites through WWA’s website.  The goal is to get as many of these houses up and producing cavity nesting birds pronto!  If we are able to get all of these boxes hung this year, statistically, they will produce 500+ ducklings.   Don’t you just love it when conservation organizations work together for the mutual benefit of their members and state ducks?!?

Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve worked with Delta, and particularly Eric (who is also a member of WWA); our work together goes back over 20 years.   There are many examples. WWA’s 140-acre owned property in Abrams, WI has wood duck houses that originated with Delta.  In 2017, Delta (through Eric) and WWA  established mallard nesting tubes on state and other public properties under our Adopt-a-Wildlife Area program with the state’s DNR.  In a more recent example, Eric’s been a key member of the leadership team of the Waterfowl Hunters EXPO, as vice chair for the many logistical needs of putting on this extravaganza!  WWA is super pleased to be able to expand our collaboration with wood duck structures, leveraging Delta’s capacities with WWA’s volunteer base and state focus.  A pretty good team!