Reproduction: Wood ducks are so called due to their habit of nesting in tree cavities though will also breed in artificial nests boxes. These next boxes are used in areas without as many tree cavities to increase the amount of wood ducks in an area, along with helping introduce them to areas they have become extirpated in, extinct from an area. Nest boxes also encourage “egg dumping” where a female wood duck will lay her eggs in the nest of another wood duck. This way, the female, often in her first year, avoids parental responsibility and can focus more on foraging for herself. “Egg dumping” happens more often with next boxes due to their proximity. Being out in the open, the nest boxes can be easily observed by other ducks, allowing a female to easily observe the comings and goings of another female. Watching this, she can easily pick the perfect time to enter undetected and leave her own eggs behind.
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Sources:
Semel, Brad, et al. "Effects of Brood Parasitism and Nest-Box Placement on Wood Duck Breeding Ecology." Oxford Academic, The Condor, 1 Nov. 1988, academic.oup.com/condor/article-abstract/90/4/920/5189134?login=false. Accessed 28 Jan. 2023. |