MWDI Home Page

Activity Reports
Banding Reports

   Education

   Research

   Forms

   Certification Program

   Best Practices Field Guide

   Nest Box Plans

   Predator Guards

   A Total Wetland Experience

   Links

Click on Photo Above for Larger Image

Wood Duck Boxes for Sale!
Limited Offer - 50 available $25.00 each
The J. M. Tawes Technology and Career Center in Somerset Co. (Tawes) is making 50 cedar wood duck boxes. MWDI and the Maryland Waterfowler’s Association (MDWFA) are assisting Tawes sell and deliver the boxes at Tawes’ cost to help perpetuate the school’s program of teaching its students proper saw and wood assembly techniques by recycling the proceeds to fund cedar lumber for more boxes next year. These will sell out fast. Order today!

Nesting results are now 85% collected as 65% of the 59 project sites have been inspected. The picture collage above represents the many efforts of volunteers and public officials being provided in the pursuit of this statewide endeavor. The table below represents our preliminary estimates for the 2008 nest season results.

Nesting Survey Results, September 2008

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. Please review MWDI’s latest Activity Report and the other web site sections for current details of our various activities. The Activity Report also provides production summaries of the three largest project sites. Once we tabulate and analyze all our sites, a more detailed use and productivity summary will be published this fall.

There is still time for photo contest submissions of your flora and fauna - total wetland experiences until the end of October.

We’ve now surpassed 13,000 volunteer hours since 2004. The “best practices” approach is generating noticeable gains and providing a rewarding experience to those involved. Come join us. No dues, just whatever time you wish to commit whenever you want to get outdoors !

Sincerely,

Cliff Brown
Executive Director
Maryland Wood Duck Initiative

The Maryland Wood Duck Initiative is an all-volunteer wildlife conservation effort started in late 2004. Our objectives are to enhance Maryland’s wood duck population and to generate a greater appreciation of the wetland habitats in which they live by advocating and demonstrating the merits of a “best practices” approach in managed nest programs.

Leveraging these focused efforts on the wood duck, we seek to provide a Total Wetlands Experience for our volunteers and the “next generation” through the development of complementary educational programs, internships and research projects.