Species-Specific Management (SSM)

Wood Duck

Wood ducks, Aix sponsa, are also known as woodies, squealers, acorn ducks, or summer ducks.

Wood ducks are migratory species that occur in the southern Appalachian forests during breeding seasons. The area is a secondary range during winter months. The bird is more dependent on forests than any other American waterfowl. Wood ducks breed in places where trees provide nesting cavities and food near permanent fresh-water lakes and streams. They need brushy borders for rearing young and swampy areas for roosting. The best and most extensive type of habitat is called the riparian zone, the volume which is water to the tops of hardwoods that border streams and contain permanent fresh-water lakes. The wood duck is a resident of swamps, sluggish rivers, creeks, lagoons, and wooded ponds region-wide. Where it occurs, wood duck habitat can be actively managed and it has responded well to management in the past.

Generally, large reservoirs with clean shorelines, fluctuating water levels and fall drawdown are not suitable for wood ducks. Conversely, small reservoirs and lakes with wooded shorelines, swampy areas, emergent vegetation and stable pools furnish good habitat. The many thousands of acres of natural lakes, stock ponds, and beaver ponds are the basic wood duck habitat. A permanent freshwater supply is needed to support wood ducks. The water supply should be surrounded by woodlands. Wood ducks are cavity nesters so they require large old trees or trees with woodpecker holes.

Wood ducks are seed and nut eaters, southern oaks, elms, black gums, dogwoods, beechnuts, and hickories are important. These trees provide various food resources. Wood ducks are especially fond of acorns.

Here is a set of management suggestions:

1. A permanent source of water must be available. This water source should be shallow and sluggish flowing. Enough flow is needed to prevent freezing. A good source of water is beaver dams on small streams.
2. Add log and stone structures to streams to reduce water flow.
3. Prevent the buildup of filamentous algae in the water. Ducklings may become entangled in these plants and drown. Maintaining water flow should prevent these plants from growing. Do not allow the stream to become impounded.
4. Allow bottom lands to grow naturally. Minimize competition between oak trees and pines.
5. Oaks, beeches, pecans, elms, and black gums provide food and nesting cover. Trees 16 inches in diameter or greater are preferred for nest cavities.
6. Encourage woodpecker usage on the bottom lands by leaving snags. Woodpeckers provide nesting cavities. Girdling can produce snags and, later, nest cavities.
7. Leave area in hardwoods. Do not cut your property and plant pines, especially in bottom land areas.
8. Build nest boxes if cavities are not available. These can be placed in the water on poles or on trees near the water.
9. Prevent nest box competition with starlings by using cylinders, or attaching starling boxes to the wood duck boxes.
10. Maintain habitat in and around the water to support insects and insect larvae to provide ducklings with protein foods needed at early stages of life.
11. Prevent predator damage by raccoons, flickers, and snakes.
12. Discourage those people who hunt your property from violating the law. Protect the ducks on your property by preventing hunting until a stable population is established.
13. Discourage human disturbance (such as by fishing) during breeding and rearing of young.
14. Build a blind or watching platform a good distance away from the nests or areas used by adults, if landscape allows. These ducks can be watched from a hillside or ridge top. Make use of the resource without disturbing it.
15. Protect the area and birds from livestock disturbance by fencing. Livestock cause great damage to riparian areas around the streams.
16. Explain to friends and neighbors the importance of wood ducks and encourage them to help protect or establish breeding populations on their property.
17. Ask questions, read, and use the internet to learn about wood ducks. Much information about wood ducks is available. Get involved and become informed about the beautiful migratory wood ducks.
18. Help to protect wetlands along migratory flyways. Join organizations like Ducks Unlimited or communicate with your members of Congress about strict legislation to protect wetlands.

A contribution of Dennis A. Gayness (1992)
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321

Submitted by Robert H. Giles, Jr.

This Web site is maintained by R. H. Giles, Jr.
Last revision January 17, 2000.