Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 25, 1990 TAG: 9003260008
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PATRICIA C. HELD
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But luckily for us, they are abundant in Virginia and we have ample opportunities to see them. The birds breed throughout the East, southeast Canada and a small area on the West Coast. In the wintertime the Virginia coast is on the northern edge of its territory.
Right about now is the time of year to look for wood ducks as they begin to establish nesting territories and search for suitable areas to raise their young.
By far the most colorful of ducks, the wood duck is among the smallest in North America. The drake or male wood duck is most striking. He is black, white, red, yellow, green, purple and bronze. And on top of this rainbow body he has a crest of iridescent feathers that change colors with the sun. It is no wonder the birds are a favorite subject of wildlife artists. In contrast, the hen is much more subtly colored with soft brown and white speckles all over her body.
Often called "woodie," the wood duck also goes by several other nicknames: "tree duck," "swamp duck," "summer duck," "plummer," "the bride" and the "squealer" to name a few. While most refer to habitat and appearance, "squealer" may be the most descriptive. The wood duck has an unmistakable high-pitched call that demands attention to its presence.
The main needs of this duck are fresh water and a hollow tree in which to nest. A typical cavity nester, the wood duck is one of more than 80 species of birds in North America that inhabit dead or dying trees. The wood duck is the only pond duck to nest off the ground and sometimes chooses hollows as high as 50 feet off the ground. While we usually envision ideal nesting sites as being in healthy trees or leafy shrubs full of foliage, the wood duck prefers dead or dying trees for their nest sites. They prefer nesting near woody swamps, along small streams, near beaver ponds and in fresh-water marshes. They feed on insects, plant life and nuts, especially acorns.
Destruction of most of its habitat during the 19th century and overhunting put the wood duck on the verge of extinction. At that time, wild waterfowl were hunted and marketed for city dwellers. The meat was sold to restaurants and at grocery stores and the feathers adorned women's hats. In addition, logging and clear-cutting woodlands removed much of the forest and swampland the wood duck needed for nesting.
But in the early 20th century, legislation was enacted to protect the wood duck. Hunting was banned, and habitat protection measure enacted.
Through the efforts of sportsmen and wildlife biologists nest boxes were built and placed in suitable habitats to offset the loss of hollow trees. With the increase in the number of nest sites, the wood duck population began to climb and by 1941 the population was suficient enough to initiate hunting again.
While the wood duck population is once again healthy, there are still problems. The wetlands and bottom lands used by wood ducks continue to be drained and cleared. Flood control projects destroy the forest land so important for their lifestyle. And finally our habit of removing dead and dying trees from wood lots adds to the problem of lack of adequate nest sites. Luckily wood ducks can easily be attracted to man-made nest sites set out exclusively for use by wood ducks.
If you would like directions on how to build a wood duck house for your area, send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Patricia Held will respond to readers' questions on the plant and animal wildlife in the region. Mail inquiries to: Patricia C. Held, P.O. Box 65, Goode 24556.
by CNB