On Mon, 20 May 1996, Peggi Rodgers wrote:

> Also, anybody ever put up a wood duck box? How did it work? We have a pair
> looking for nesting sites.
>
Peggi,

Here's some info from a BWD publication I got with my last feeder.
I'll put it in verbatim, I haven't done Wood Duck boxes myself, so I
encourage anyone to add to the info and point out any corrections they
would make.

"Ideal Nest Boxes for Wood Ducks:

Wood ducks prefer large, deep nest boxes placed on poles or trees
above or near water. One advantage of placing duck boxes over water is
that the location makes for safer fledging for young ducks (More on this
later.)
To soften the bottom of the box, place a few handfuls of dry wood
chips inside the box. the female wood duck will use these as a foundation
for her nest (Dimensions of box later).
Another feature of a wood duck box that can make a big difference
for nestlings is an inside ladder. Tack a six-inch wide strip of 1/4 inch
hardware cloth below the entrance hole on the inside. The ducklings use
this to exit the nest box. Some duck boxes are designed with a front panel
that slopes downward from the hole to the floor. This adaptation simulates
a natural cavity and also makes it easier for ducks and ducklings to exit
the box.
By March, most female woodies have mates, and the search for nest
sites begins. Hens initiate the search and select the cavity. Within days,
the female begins laying eggs. A typical clutch of 12 eggs is cradled in
the debris at the bottom of the cavity (wood chips in a nest box). Toward
the end of the egg-laying cycle, the hen may pluck some of her own
down feathers and add them to the nest. After an incubation period of
about 30 days, the eggs hatch. The drake has abandoned the hen by this
time, and she rears the brood alone (Incidentally, the Lewiston Levees are
gearing up for duckling and gosling season, not many female woods are on
the water; I'd expect a lot of baby woods to be seen within a week or
two!)
A few hours after the ducklings' first sunrise, the hen leaves the
cavity and calls to the ducklings to follow her. They respond immediately
by peeping and then jumping up toward the cavity's hole. Clinging to the
cavity wall with strong legs and claws, the ducklings gradually work their
way up to the hole. (Note: notches carved on the box's inside front panel
help ducklings get a good grip.) Then, in what is truly a sight to behold,
the ducklings jump to the ground or water below. Although naturl cavities
may be as high as 60 feet, the duckling's small size and downy covering
lets them land softly and unharmed.
As soon as the entire brood is on the ground, it follows the hen
to the brood pond. Weak ducklings that can't make their way out of the
cavity are left behind. If the nest is some distance from the brood pond,
the overland trip to water can be hazardous. The longer the journey, the
greater the odds are that a raccoon, hawk, or snake will snatch some or
all of the brood. That's why it's best to put wood duck nest boxes
directly over the water. Even in the water, ducklings face constant danger
from unseen predators below--snapping turtles, large fish, and water
snakes.

(-excerpt from A Guide to Bird Homes, by Scott Shalaway)

Box Dimensions
Interior floor size: 12 X 12 inches
Interior height: 24 inches.
Entrance hole: oval, 3"high,4"wide.
Height from ground: 5-20 feet.


Hope this helps out! If not, I hope it helps out somebody else, then...:-)

-Pat
scott931 at uidaho.edu

P.S.: Let us know if you get takers!