Nesting Wood Duck

Several wood ducks and hooded mergansers have been flying in and out of the new nesting boxes we put up this spring but one female wood duck has finally claimed one of the boxes as her own and is now incubating the eggs. This is the box on the edge of our pond and the one that we are able to keep a closer eye on.

Female wood duck perched on a nest box

Now that the female is incubating the eggs the male wood duck isn't hanging as much around but a week ago, when the following photos were taken, he was still with the female. While she was checking out the box or laying eggs he would swim around in front of the box, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

Male wood duck swimming in front of the nest box

I was very fortunate to get a photo of the two of them together before she entered the nest box. I won't get another chance for a photo like this until next spring!

Pair of wood ducks in our pond near the nest box

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