Michael--

When I was a kid in MA, we had a wood duck who used to nest high
up in an Elm..about 50 feet up or so..every Memorial Day, she'd
kick the kids out and they'd come fluttering down to the ground.
my brother and I and some friends stood around with sticks and
chased off the cats (including ours) until mother formed them
up in the driveway and then waddled off with this sea of downies
in tow, to cross the street..usually in front of the parade..
she actually held up the local parade while she waddled down the
driveway across the town square and down an alley into the river..
(where, no doubt, the snapping turtles thinned them out a bit)

I'd forgotten about that..she did it a few times in the late 1940's
and then Dutch Elm wiped out her condo..

She was no where near any water up in that tree...


I forwarded your message to a friend here in OLY who has
a pond that dried up two years running a few years ago..
however, the last couple of years it's been full through
the breeding season..he always has wood ducks..

here's his response:

Tom, Wood ducks have successfully raised young here in years when
the pond went dry (late). I guess it's a matter of enough water to
provide vegetation to hide and aquatic insects. Possibly vegetation is
the key.

Tom


Tom Foote footet at elwha.evergreen.edu
Lab II
The Evergreen State College (360) 866-6000 x6118
Olympia, WA 98505