J. M. Bennett High Schoolers at it Again!

James M. Bennett High School students will again be creating Wood Duck
nesting canisters for a 2nd year.  Students in Courtland Lilley’s
Transportation Technology class will be transforming scrap Freon
canisters into a home for Wood Ducks on the Lower Shore. 

Last year the students made 25 nesting canisters and turned them over
to MWDI to put the finishing touches on them, mount and install in various projects sites.

This year they will be making 10 fully finished nesting structures.  The boxes will thus become “turn key” for MWDI volunteers to install. 

These boxes have proven to be a suitable alternative to conventional wooden boxes in several projects sites in Maryland where a shaded nesting habitat is afforded the wood ducks. Shade is important so that excessive heat buildup is avoided inside the canisters during the primary nesting period each spring. Tree swallows, wrens and great crested flycatchers have also been observed utilizing the canisters.

The Freon canisters will be installed, monitored, and maintained on a Lower Shore Wood Duck Box project site by the Maryland Waterfowlers Association.

As all raw material prices rise, the use of alternative sources such as this one benefits both man and nature. All eyes will be focused on the hatch/use data that comes from these boxes to evaluate their success.

The Maryland Waterfowlers Association works in cooperation with MWDI on many Wood Duck nest box projects throughout the state to increase the success of Maryland’s Wood Duck population.