DNR Partners With
Maryland Wood Duck Initiative To Increase Wood Duck Habitat
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Wildlife and Heritage Service is partnering with the Maryland Wood Duck
Initiative to enhance Maryland’s wood duck population and generate a
greater appreciation of the wetland habitats in which wood ducks live.
“The wood duck, one of our most beautiful birds, is a wonderful ambassador
to promote awareness and conservation of Maryland’s wetlands,” said Paul
Peditto, Director of DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service.
The Initiative will implement best management practices to improve the
productivity of wood duck box nesting programs, utilizing well-built nest
boxes and predator guards that are properly positioned and in proximity to
good brood rearing habitat. Documenting and analyzing nesting results and
a sustained maintenance and inspection program are also critical to the
effort’s success.
The Initiative organizes groups of volunteers to build nest boxes, monitor
and maintain them, and conduct educational outings. “Dedicated volunteers
form the backbone of our organization although the response to our mission
from many state, federal and county wildlife professionals has been
critical to the progress achieved thus far,” said Cliff Brown, Executive
Director of the Maryland Wood Duck Initiative.
During the last two years, when the Initiative was informally active
across Maryland, more than 600 new boxes were installed on the state’s
public lands. The Initiative also worked with private landowners to
install an additional 700 boxes.
Over the next five years, DNR hopes that more than 750 additional wood
duck boxes will be installed on Maryland’s Wildlife Management Areas and
other public lands. DNR supports the Initiative by purchasing materials
for boxes, poles and predator guards, evaluating habitat opportunities,
and providing support in the field as well as website services. The
Initiative also utilizes funding from a diverse group of conservation
organizations and individuals for site-specific projects.
The Initiative promotes a “Total Wetlands Experience” theme by monitoring
wood ducks and other wildlife using nest boxes and exposing volunteers to
other flora and fauna while in the field. School-based and inspection
certification programs working with private landowners to improve nest box
productivity, as well as research that documents the merits of best
management practices, add a critical public education component to the
project.
The Maryland Wood Duck Initiative is a completely volunteer-based
non-profit organization. Other statewide partners currently include Ducks
Unlimited and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
For more information visit
www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife.
