May 12th
Box #1 –I moved the red squirrel out. A duck has tested it out. Still ducks on the pond.
Box #2 –Momma is still on the nest. I startled her, when I fell walking onto the dock. She flew off.
On Golden Pond Incubation: 28-37 days.
Box #3 – I've had visitors in the new location, no takers.
Wood duck box 3 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.May 6th
Nest #1 – This had a red squirrel in it. It delayed them. A duck has checked it out today. The dock is nearly under water!
Nest #2 – Momma is still on the nest. I accidentally flushed her when I went to grab the trailcam SD card.
Nest #3 – I have moved to the other part of the swamp. Still no visitors.
May 2nd
I'm so excited! (Get it?! ) I count 12 eggs.This is box #2.
The frog pond looks so pretty. Yesterday afternoon (May 3rd) I spent hours moving the wood duck nesting box on the left to another part of the property, on the edge of the wetland. It seems to me to be too close to #2, which is on the right. #2 has the 12 eggs, and momma in it.
Wood duck box #1, in the 2nd photo, hasn't any tenants, yet.
April 13
Wood ducks 2017 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.April 9th
#3 being cleaned March 30th
9 comments:
12 eggs, is that a record number? Still looks a bit cold there, we had a frost yesterday, 1.3C, fires were lit. A bit warmer this morning at 4.30 a.m. Early wake-up for me!!!
What deluxe wood duck nesting boxes! And the thick feather down layer completes the luxury. Even a ladder is provided. I wonder if a barred owl might rent one next year.
Hopefully it is a good season for them.
Nothing better than watching the wood ducks hatch.
I wish you 12 happy ducklings.
@Jean, It's not a record number, I had 17 one year. That's unlikely only one duck, though, as they lay their eggs wherever they can!
@John, we usually have 1 or 2 eggs left over, unfertilized. That's not a bad haul. There is a huge predatory rate, though.
Belle histoire ;-)
Céline & Philippe
How wonderful that the wood ducks are back, and 12 eggs, wow!
Twelve eggs? Wow! That will be so cute when they trail after their momma on the pond.
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