Meet the Wood Duck
The wood duck is one of North America's most beautiful birds. The males have an iridescent green crest, red eyes, and bold white markings. You'll find them on Louisiana's swamps, bayous, and flooded bottomland forests all year.
A Duck That Nests in Trees
Unlike most ducks, wood ducks nest in tree cavities, sometimes 30 feet or more off the ground. A hen lays about 10 to 15 eggs and sits on them for about a month.
The Big Jump
About a day after hatching, the ducklings leap from the nest to the ground or water below, often from dizzying heights. They aren't hurt, and they follow their mother to water to feed themselves from day one.
Why They Need Our Help
Wood ducks almost disappeared in the early 1900s because of overhunting and habitat loss. Today, old hollow trees are still scarce in many areas, and there aren't enough natural cavities. Nest boxes fill that gap, and they've been one of conservation's great success stories.
What Southern Quacker Does
Southern Quacker Wildlife Conservation builds, installs, and maintains wood duck nest boxes in [WMA name]. Every box is mounted on a predator guard and is checked and cleaned each season. So far we've installed [number] boxes.
Donate or Sponsor a Box
For $199, you can Donate a wood duck nest box installed in the Peral River WMA. It makes a great memorial or gift, and it's tax-deductible because we're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your box will provide safe nesting for wood ducks for years to come.
For $99 a year you can Sponsor a Box, Your yearly sponsorship covers checking, cleaning, and maintaining one of our boxes in the Pearl River WMA so it's ready for nesting season. It's tax-deductible because we're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your sponsorship will help keep the boxes ready for nesting season each year.