2009 Statewide Nesting Results almost Compiled
Preliminary Results Available

Final nest inspections and data collection are now 90% completed. Estimates are being developed for the remaining boxes where inspection is not planned until winter 2010 and 2008 estimated results for many of these same boxes are now being reconciled.

Preliminary results now indicate a potential decline of 4-6% on MWDI's public sites, modestly better than estimated in August. The results vary widely with expected growth in several new projects sites but a noticeable decline having occurred in others. 2008 band recovery data indicate that more wood ducks were harvested in several southern states - likely the result of the new federal 3-bird bag limit last fall. Maryland's harvest apparently declined from about 10,000 to an estimated 7,600 in 2008 as migration started before the early fall season.

The net impact of the new harvest regulation is believed to have resulted in fewer hens returning to Maryland as nest demand was off in many sites as indicated by lower box use and lower clutch sizes generally. Nest failures of generally lower clutch sizes were also up - a puzzling variable.

However, DNR’s 2009 banding efforts suggest that brood survival may have been strong, helping to offset lower duckling production suggested by the nest box results if this data is indeed representative of total nesting productivity.

2008 Preliminary Nesting Survey Results
Showed increase to more than 6,600 ducklings from
the 1,545 boxes on MWDI’s public lands sites

Nesting results are now 85% collected as 65% of the 59 project sites have been inspected. The table below represents our preliminary estimates for the 2008 nest season results.

More than 9,700 ducklings have been hatched since the reference period when projects have been adopted or initiated. In 2008, the incremental hatch is more than 4,000 alone and growing. The results are very gratifying especially as the drought of 2007 apparently hurt brood survival based on the reduced number of yearling hens estimated to have returned to Maryland this year.

2009 field work is already underway and we expect about 200 new boxes to be installed in several existing projects and 6-8 new sites.

Summary of MWDI's 2006 Public Lands Wood Duck Nesting Survey and the 2007 Preliminary Nesting Survey Results

The final data has now been compiled for the 2006 Public Lands Wood Duck Nesting Survey and the Preliminary 2007 Nesting Surveys. The detailed report is being finalized and will be published shortly. This report will include data on each public site with analyses of the results as well as plans for the 2008 season. The results are gratifying and appropriately reflect the efforts of numerous volunteers and public employees who have participated in the resource management of these 41 wood duck nesting programs. There will be more than 50 project sites next season with a net capacity increase of 150-200 boxes. A continuation of the positive hatch trend is expected as "Best Practices" are further refined and introduced across all sites. Congratulations and thanks for your extensive support.