2003 Installation Season
A Very Busy Season Completed
Spring has passed and another successful installation season for the SCWA Wood Duck Production Project is officially over. Biologists and field technicians worked from October through May initiating new nest box projects across the state, as well as renovating older projects that were in need of repairs.
Winter rains restored original wetlands that had long since dried up, virtually assuring that this years brood production will surpass those of recent years. Add to that the installation of more than 500 new nesting units by SCWA field staff, and the production results are very promising.
The Wood Duck Production Project once again teamed up with the NRCS to develop 4 new projects this past winter, 2 in Dillon County and 2 in Bamberg County. Projects that were once existing wetlands are eligible for a cost share program with the NRCS in an effort to restore and enhance South Carolina’s wetland habitat. Once restored, a total of 23 nesting units were installed to provide suitable cavities to wood ducks as well as non- target species. This service was provided with no cost to the landowner, as the NRCS provided funding for the projects.
Nest Checks Underway
Field technicians wasted no time shifting their efforts from installations to checks and maintenance. Currently, there are approximately 5,000 nesting units that will be checked by SCWA personnel this summer. Technicians clean each box and record the number of eggs (hatched, incubating, or abandoned) as well as the presence of non target species such as hooded mergansers or songbirds. Data is entered into SCWA databases to help illustrate how effective these conservation efforts are, and landowners receive a report documenting what was produced from each box. Field crews have already begun the checks, and have completed checks in Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Chester, Union, Laurens, Newberry, and Saluda counties.
Each active project will receive a call from the Conservation Program Assistant in order to schedule a convenient date to have technicians come out and perform the nest checks. Those members that are unable to be reached after several tries will receive a volunteer packet with information on how to perform the checks themselves, and are encouraged to return those results to SCWA.
The checks in upstate counties were finished on June 31. They will be followed by the midlands in July and finally the lower state in August. If you were not contacted but would like to have your nesting units checked and maintained, please call the Conservation Project Assistant, at 803-452-6001.
Calling All Volunteers!!
The Wood Duck Production Project would like to begin a large scale nest box volunteer program. One volunteer chairman from each chapter would be designated to oversee the installation and maintenance of up to 50 nesting structures per year. Project descriptions and nest data would then be collected and returned to SCWA headquarters. If you are interested in learning more about becoming involved with your local chapter, please call the SCWA office at 803-452-6001.
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