5 Acre pond on private property - encouraging ducks

[hessian_]

I'm looking for any kind of recommended reading material, articles, threads, etc about sustaining duck habitats. The pond in question is about 15ft at the deepest, 3-5 acres in size, and is probably 75% surrounded by thick trees. The pond see frequent Geese, often in groups anywhere from 4 to 35. There's occasionally 1 or 2 ducks hiding in the corner but that's rare. I have seen a duck flock of 15 fly over, but that's not uncommon.

In the spring I plan on building 5 to 6 of these duck nest boxes (https://glenncountyrcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/WoodDuckinFieldweb.jpg) and placing them several feet off shore in the water on a long pole.

I'm wondering if there's something else that can be done to encourage ducks to come. Could it be trimming back bush/trees, etc.

 

[1963beretta]

Are there shallow spots in the ground? If so, it would be a good idea to try and grow wild rice in those areas.

You may also want to do some research on what Ducks Unlimited can offer. I had a client that had DU put in a duck pond on his property at no cost. His pond was built on the corner of his acreage and is surrounded by fields. DU also put in nest boxes and self sustaining wild rice. His pond isn't very big, but at times has more waterfowl in it than it can comfortably hold

 

[trevj]

I have a fifteen acre pond.

If you can, do whatever it takes, to keep the Canada geese from setting up camp. Aside from screeching like fighting crack hoes, they crap everywhere, they have excellent vision both day and night, and, did I mention, screeching a crapping?

Once the geese started avoiding the place, here, the ducks moved in.

A mix of deep and shallow water, to attract the ducks that dabble, as well as the diving ducks. Long grass and weeds around the perimeter, both as a privacy screen, and as a place to take refuge from predators.

Duck will nest in some of the most gawdawful places. They do like some long grass around.

If you want wild ducks, make the pond a wild place. You don't see a lot of ducks hanging around the manicured golf course type ponds, if they have any choices.

 

[Philthy1]

Geese will want the wider, more open water, while ducks are good with the more obscured water. But essentially it's all about the feed.