Quick Peeks into the Wood Duck Box This Week!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

           Carl and I had been watching the wood ducks -- via video feed -- come nearly daily, in the morning,  to our Wood Duck box.  The female only stayed in the box for just 2 or 3 minutes -- definitely not long enough to lay an egg.  We did check the box from time to time just to make sure.  No there were no eggs.

           Finally, Wednesday, it appeared that all the practicing is over.  Carl captured an hour's worth of video of the female in the box and, yes, there is an egg!  Carl made this video to share.

Friday, March 14, 2014

         Friday, Carl captured this photo which showed 3 eggs.  We have not actually gone down to the box to attempt to count eggs. 

Wood duck with 3 eggs -- Parc Perlière -- Charleston, SC -- March 14, 2014

Sunday, March 16, 2014

         Yesterday, the female spent about 2 hours in the box, which was longer than usual.  Then in the afternoon, a female came into the box and spent about 5 minutes.  We are doubting that it is the same female.  It behaved like it was "practicing."  It laid on the eggs, pushed them around with its feet.  Then she covered them up and left.  Thinking back to the previous weekend's duel pair of wood ducks in the creek, it makes us wonder if there are 2 females who are going to attempt to use the box.  I would go out and count eggs right now, BUT, a pair of wood ducks showed up behind the house.  I do not want to flush them so we will wait and see.

          Strangely, until just now this afternoon, no one has shown up.  We will watch the box to see if the female, who is currently feeding under the bird feeder which hangs over the creek, goes into the box.

          What will happen next?  Surely, the eggs have not been abandoned!  We will keep you updated as events progress!