How to Make a Wood Duck Nest Box

Wood ducks were once one of the most common ducks in North America. Habitat loss and over hunting dangerously reduced their population. Since the enactment of the Migratory Bird Act of 1918, however, wood ducks have made a comeback. This is due in part to the use of nesting boxes. First introduced in Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge in central Illinois in 1937, nest boxes proved successful and thousands have been installed across the country since then. Wood duck nest boxes can be made at home by the amateur carpenter. Location is critical, but not difficult to determine. Do not be surprised if you find a species other than a wood duck using one of your boxes. Buffleheads, Barrow's goldeneyes, common goldeneyes, hooded mergansers and common mergansers are also tree-dwelling ducks that are struggling against increasingly limited habitat.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 rough-cut 1-inch thick cedar or cypress board, 52 by 10 inches
  • 1 rough-cut 1-inch thick cedar or cypress board, 31 by 8 inches
  • Table or hand saw
  • Drill and 1/2-inch bit
  • Jigsaw
  • Pencil
  • Straight edge
  • Measuring tape
  • Sandpaper
  • 1 1/2-inch wood screws
  • Hinge (optional but recommended)
  • Plans downloaded for free from U.S. Geological Survey website
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Instructions

  1. How to Make the Box

    • 1

      Measure and cut a 6-inch section of the 52-by-10-by-1-inch board. This is the floor of the box. Measure and cut a 15-inch section of the same board for the roof. The sides each need to be cut at an angle so the assembled box will have a sloped roof. Cut the remaining piece, which should be 31 inches long, in half at an angle so that each piece has a 15-inch side and a 16-inch side.

    • 2

      Cut a 16-inch section from the 31-by-8-by-1-inch board for the back of the box. The remaining 15-inch section will be the front. Score the inside of the front board with the saw to provide toe holds so the ducklings can climb out.

    • 3

      Drill five 1/2-inch drainage holes in the floor. For the entrance hole, measure 9 1/2 inches from the bottom of the front board. Using a pencil, draw a 4-inch circle up from that point. The top of the circle should be 1 1/2 inches down from the top of the front board. Measure twice; proper entry hole size and placement are important. Drill a pilot hole first, then use the jigsaw to cut the entrance hole.

    • 4

      Attach the back to the long ends of the side with four screws drilled from the back into the sides. Slide the floor into place and secure with two screws from the back and two through each side. Fasten the front on with six screws

    • 5

      Put 3 inches of sawdust in the bottom of the box. Attach the roof with four screws through the top and three across the back. Attach the roof with a hinge in the back. This is recommended, as you will need to clean out the box at the end of each winter. If you use a hinge, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Do not forget to put a hook and eye in the front so the box can be secured against predators.