Lumber Cutting Day - Set New Record

Please Review our May 2010 Activity Report

Plans for the 2010 nesting season are well underway as we are also finalizing 2009 nesting results in certain programs as boxes are readied for the coming season.

Our cypress wood order has been delivered. Kits and assembled boxes will be available by mid-March after out February 22 cut day is completed. Wood for 350 boxes was obtained, primarily for privately-sponsored programs. Predator guards are also still available via Delta Waterfowl, although metal prices have risen somewhat (see details).

MWDI was able to install several new projects for 2010 last year although we have a few more to complete by the end of March, which our upcoming Activity Report will cover. Various replacements, relocations and upgrades will also continue.

Late winter and spring is a great time to see all types of waterfowl so please consider joining us in these efforts! Contact me with your geographical and logistical desires and we’ll get you, your kids or youth groups involved at whatever level of effort you wish in your locale.

A very special thanks for our 2010 financial support from MD DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service, Delta Waterfowl, The Maryland Waterfowler’s Association, The Maryland Sportsman Association, The Chestertown Wildlife Exhibition & Sale, Queen Anne Parks & Recreation and M-NCPPC (PG County). As a result, MWDI will host youth-oriented box building events this year at DNR’s Hunting & Fishing Day in September, Delta Waterfowl’s Havre de Grace event in May as well as the Chestertown Wildlife Exhibition & Sale in October. PG County Parks is also sponsoring an assembly event. We will probably have enough kits to use in 1 or 2 other such events or scout projects this season, so contact me if interested.

It will be most interesting to see nest use this season after last year’s drop. The initial impact of USF&W’s 3 bird harvest limit in 2008 is felt to have had a negative impact in nesting levels in several project areas and slowed use in new projects. However, brood survival seemed to be very strong as the summer progressed.

Harvest estimates from the southern wintering states are not yet available for the 2009-10 season. Periodic nest monitoring has been very valuable to help discern evolving trends in box use and productivity. We feel that this information will be a useful variable to consider in evaluating the merits of Federal and State harvest policies.

Many thanks to our ongoing supporters and volunteers.

Sincerely,

Cliff Brown
Executive Director
Maryland Wood Duck Initiative