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Index of Subjects What a delight for Bernard to find a wood duck surprise. I really think that many cavity nesters have been displaced this year with trees lost that they normally would have used for nesting. I am not sure if anyone saw my earlier notes on our wood duck nesting antics in Tupperville. (Bernard will want to know this, since we have 'competing nest boxes' ever since the incident with the saw-whet nest of young owlets a number of years back- where he made the front page of the Herald after coming to band them.) We are having parallel experiences to his! We had been enjoying seeing the wood duck pair fly to the pond each morning. They stayed only perhaps 30-50 minutes and generally left by 7:45 hr, just as soon as she flew back out of the nest box and returned to the water. We checked out the box contents on about April 17th. There were 3 eggs then. After that we continued watching the pair land fairly consistently each morning. Last Friday, I convinced my husband to put on his waders and check the nest box once more, thinking we should get an updated egg count. On April 24th, he climbed up to the box and at the moment he looked in the side door, the female wood duck burst out of the front entrance. What a thrill! Larry was shocked and forgot to count the eggs. We didn't want to linger to disturb things more than we had. I guess now we get to compare who's wood duck will hatch first. Duck saga indeed! Thanks Judy! What is also interesting is the difference in habitats. We have an old open field where we put in a pond. There are few trees around, being mostly farm land. Bernard's backyard is a small wooded glen, or that's how I'd describe it. I guess you can't be too choosy when you are a cavity nester that doesn't manufacture your own residence. Donna On 2020-04-27 5:58 p.m., Judy Tufts wrote: > Hi folks: > > I am back again, with an update about the ongoing 'duck saga' taking place > in Bernard Forsythe's back yard on Wolfville Ridge. The mystery deepened. > He had not seen any duck go in or out of the nest box so he decided to > check out the nest box this morning while the rain gently fell. > > > > Now the last time he had checked, there were 10 (ten) eggs in this feathery > nest, this time as he got his ladder out and climbed up to take another > look, guess who flew out... A female Wood Duck....! > > I don't know who was more surprised. This time there were 15 (fifteen) eggs. > He was rather surprised to see the WODU, as he had tentatively thought they > resembled Hooded Merganser's eggs - global and white, semi-hidden in piles > of feathers. > > > > He said what misled him was the fact they are VERY white, not the beige-y > colour he associates with HOMEs, unusual to say the least. BUT, he has > another bonus in the fact this is a 'lifer' for his back yard! > > I'm thrilled for Bernard at this outcome. My initial thought had been Wood > Duck for a box nester, so I am pleased this pretty species has moved in, > delighted that now Bernard has some excitement to look forward to. It is a > wonderful first for Bernard having a duck species nesting in his owl box. > Who'd have thought it even possible in this area. Maybe the offspring will > find it easier to relocate with the mother in reaching a pond up the street. > Will keep you updated as this story unfolds. > > > > > > 'Our' Barred Owls continue to be vocal day and night around our property and > the NS Nature Trust > > property next to us, and although one owl flew through our backyard last > week, we still do not know if the pair are nesting.. Barred Owls have such a > diverse list of 'calls' and I love to hear them in the night, to feel that > thrill of nature on one's doorstep. > > > > Take care everyone. Stay safe. > > > > Judy Tufts > > > > Judy Tufts > > Wolfville > > <<<<<<<< > > > > -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
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