Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge -- Wood Duck Initiative

Wood Duck Initiative Report

MARYLAND WOOD DUCK INITIATIVE
2007 Wood Duck Program Summary


Inspection Date		8/1/2007					Pre-MWDI
				2007	2006	2005	2004		2006
				2007	2006	2005	2004		New boxes	9
				Results	Results	Results	Base year		New locations	8
Functional Boxes				30	28	32	23		Total Boxes	40
SUCCESS nests				16	16	11	na		less: OWL inventory	12
ABAN Nests				7	1	3	na		Functional WD	28
Total use				23	17	14	na
% Use				77%	61%	44%	na
No Activity				5	12	18	na	2007
Tot Nest exams				2	1	0	na		Moved box #40 to water's edge
Remaining Active nests				0	0	0	na		Added #10 in "burn" pond
									Added #6 in Durdin Crk
FINAL NEST RESULTS									30 WD functional boxes
	Success Nests			16	16	11	na
	Eggs Laid			221	207	197	na	2008 Plan
	Eggs Hatch			163	152	159	89		Replace 6-8 boxes, upgrade
Eggs not hatch / dead ducks				58	55	38	Based on 2005		Relocate 2 boxes
% hatch - Success nest				74%	73%	79%	productivity levels.		Install 2 new locations
							Actual results likely		Retain water base longer as possible
Abandoned Nests				7	1	3	lower as new boxes
Eggs not hatched				102	12	12	preformed well above
							old ones which had high owl use
TOTAL EGGS LAID - SUC /ABN NESTS				323	219	209
Tot egg unhatch/dead duck				160	67	50	na
% Hatch / Tot Eggs Laid				50%	69%	76%	na

Abandoned Reasons			2 Starlings		Starlings		na
				Nest Strife -1
				Unknown - 3
2007 Perceptions
Use rose favorably but abandonment was significant compared to prior years - starlings got one more box
Productivity also declined with lower hatch rates in Success nests and on a gross eggs laid basis
3 Owls using WD boxes and a Great Crested Flycatcher nest post Abandonment observed