Last weekend I was out with the Junior Forest Wardens checking out Wood Duck
boxes. According to the Birds of BC this was the last weekend we could
reliably check them before they started nesting. Because the people who put
the original boxes out didn't put wood shavings in the boxes I didn't expect
any sign of previous nests. We were surprised to find that 3 out of 4 had
nest material in them. It was mainly Kindbergia moss, but also there was
what looked roughly like potting soil complete with tiny pieces of mica. In
addition, two had egg shell remnants in them. The original eggs appeared to
be a little smaller than a golf ball and a light brown or beige colour. The
fifth box was left alone because it had four similar eggs in them. If these
are wood duck eggs, they are nesting earlier than suggested in the Birds of
BC. And also the evidence seems to contradict the literature which told me
that Wood Ducks do not bring nest material to the nest. Can anybody tell me
if any other cavity nesting species have brown eggs and bring nest material
to the nest?
John A. (Sandy) McRuer, RPF
4728 Southgate Road
Port Alberni B.C.
V9Y 5K6
250-723-2452 or 723-5436