Woody box update #4

Canso

Canso

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
69   0   0
Location
Lower Mainland/ Vancouver
Always something new out there. Latest check found a Hooded merganser hen sitting on eggs, the third Hoody we've had in 7 years.
Starlings are being more aggressive, after the woody hen lays her egg (one a day), she leaves and returns the next day to lay another. When she is done she feathers her nest with down and starts sitting to incubate the eggs. That way they all hatch out about the same time.
The starlings come in when the ducks are gone and cover the duck eggs with grass, we had one nest ruined by the starlings completely covering the eggs. We decided to clean out box and start over. Turns out there were layers of grassland eggs in there, 44 Woody eggs in various layers!!! Hopefully the woods win the battle, we are bringing out our shotgun to shoot starlings roosting near the box next time out.
Another positive thing is the box that hatched already was cleaned out and the camera shows it being checked out by a woody pair that night and every day since. We should start seeing eggs in this box soon!

image_zpse2amno5f.jpeg~original


image_zpslmxbj8as.jpeg~original


image_zpsuecfba6s.jpeg~original


image_zps2p9mgehi.jpeg~original


image_zpsqljsp8d9.jpeg~original


image_zps0fqztuni.jpeg~original


image_zpsopwb3qfm.jpeg~original


image_zpsnl31jb1t.jpeg~original
 
Last edited:
No offense... but instead of starting another thread every time you take new pictures, just add new info to your existing thread...
 
Love seeing these new threads!!! Keep up the great work with the boxes and please keep posting up the results. Hopefully the starlings bugger off!!





hoytcanon said:
No offense... but instead of starting another thread every time you take new pictures, just add new info to your existing thread...
Click to expand...

How about he posts they way he wants and you post the way you want and you keep your opinions to yourself.................. are you the thread police???

I personally like the new threads every time, makes me look at it for sure, not just skip over it thinking I have already seen it and there is just some more drivel added to the thread from posts like your previous one...........
 
While I can appreciate comments supporting my posts, let's not give anyone a bad time for asking a question and I would hope it was with the idea it could make the posts better rather than a criticism.
I put up separate posts to make it easy to find new pictures, long threads can make viewers skip over comments and maybe miss information that they may use if they do this type of work.
I know the previous posts can get put back a few pages though, if you click my name and view posts you can get to the other threads. I number the posts to let new viewers know there's more out there!
Trying to get out a few times a week but it depends on the weather. I also had an accident tripping into the trap pit at my Gunclub a few weeks ago. Hung onto the roof but tore off my biceps tendon on my right arm..., did the left arm 20 years ago so I know it'll be a long process to get my strength back.
So I have to wait for my buddy to have time to come along as I can't wade around in the water or chance falling and further injury.
Had surgery and everything is going well.
Should have another update by Friday.
 
Love these pics/threads.

Are there 2 holes per box? If the nest is at the same level as the entrance hole, are the boxes required to be that tall? Obviously I know nothing about nesting boxes etc. so educate me please.
 
Starlings like woody boxes no doubt. They were displacing the woodies at Deerdr's too. He even watched a pair go inside a box and roll the duck eggs up the wall on their backs and push them out!! After that war was declared and he and I sat down at his pond every evening with a flat of #8's and shot every "blackbird" that ventured within range.
 
One entrance hole near the top, on the side we have a removable panel so we can clean out the boxes. There is a dark spot at the bottom of the front that is our group logo for Pitt Waterfowlers. Lots of guys think that's a hole too.
Best to just search 'Wood Duck Box Plans" and pick one. We use mesh on some now, but taking a Skil Saw and making numerous horizontal cuts up the inside of the front up to the opening hole works fine (half inch apart).
We find a smooth pole about 2' to 3" works great but securing them to a wood pole or tree works well too. It's just easier for predators to gain access to the box in these set ups. We put about 4" of wood chips into the box for nesting material, make sure to drill about 5 holes in the bottom of the box to allow any moisture that gets in to drain off.



Trinimon said:
Love these pics/threads.

Are there 2 holes per box? If the nest is at the same level as the entrance hole, are the boxes required to be that tall? Obviously I know nothing about nesting boxes etc. so educate me please.
Click to expand...
 
Very cool pics.

For the starlings, just make or buy a small starling live trap and place it on or near your nesting box. They're similar to a minnow trap...critters get in, but cannot get out. No worries about harming the ducks as they're far too big to get into the trap.
 
Whole series is awesome. Did a school project with my son one year,construction, mounting and monitoring a nest box. Was awesome as most adults and all of the kids never knew some waterfowl species are cavity nesters. Everyone took something home with that one..
 
Thanks for the comment!
Our local Highschool makes some of our boxes, great educational project and it's always well received at the school. The boys enjoy seeing the results on Twitter and Instagram, some boxes are marked and kids can see a box they made is being used from the pictures.
Enjoy hearing others experiences, I have fond memories of dad and I putting up boxes in the '70's, my 5 year old grandsons will be out next year with boxes we'll make for the occasion.

M12shooter said:
Whole series is awesome. Did a school project with my son one year,construction, mounting and monitoring a nest box. Was awesome as most adults and all of the kids never knew some waterfowl species are cavity nesters. Everyone took something home with that one..
Click to expand...
 
Wood Ducks, my personal favourite. They nest naturally where we live but you certainly don't see enough of them. Considering your success it would not take much to stick them up, here and there around the lake. Doesn't take much to promote a species sometimes. Just put up four swallow houses and hope they catch on. Love watching them nail bugs off the deck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom