The colourful wood duck is one of the only North American ducks that nest in trees. Their nests are usually found 1-15 meters above ground in hollow trunks or large branches often quite close to the water so that the female can lead her young there when the time comes. A recent study showed that only about 20% of such nests successfully hatched. Failed nests and dead hens were mostly due to raccoon predation. Concern over wildlife stocks evolved into groups/societies of individuals who took action to assist in improving these statistics. It was found that female wood ducks readily accepted wooden boxes as nesting sites. Over time and after a number of mishaps the following practice evolved.

"While it seems natural to mount nest boxes on a tree, it is difficult to protect them from climbing predators. On the other hand, it’s simple to exclude these predators if the box is mounted on a pole and protected with an effective predator guard. Hens readily accept these set-ups, giving them a great chance to be successful. Studies have shown that hens actually prefer low-mounted boxes." ~ www.wooducksociety.com

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