Wood Ducks

#1 03-02-2007, 02:50 PM

Anyone know if there are any that call Edmonton area home ? I live an hour(ish) N.W. of the city & have some nest box plans I can use to make them at home.....if they haunt the area. (never seen them in the creek next to my place...yet)

#2 03-02-2007, 03:54 PM

Very rare in Alberta!

#3 03-02-2007, 03:58 PM

yup....went looking after posting...

weaselhead.org/profile/?s=30

sorry !

But the good news is, I now cut my work load down by one !

#4 03-02-2007, 04:46 PM

Yes, Wood Ducks are very rare in Alberta, and nesting Wood Ducks may even be more scarse. However, other species such as Common Goldeneye and Buffleheads are quite common in the boreal and they are both cavity nesters which will use your nest boxes.

280 Man

#5 03-02-2007, 06:37 PM

Can't be that rare...got a couple sitting behind me right now. They like living with me...followed me all the way from Ontario.

#6 03-02-2007, 06:58 PM

I shot one west of edmonton a few years ago on a small creek near Wabamun lake.....

It was a dream of mine for many years, and i was prepared to travel to states to get a chance at one. Very cool that i managed to track one down in Alberta. And a fully plumed drake none the less......good luck in your search.

Come to think of it a client of ours managed to shoot one over a shallow pond in a pea field a few years ago.

#7 03-02-2007, 08:48 PM

We get the odd one in the southern river valleys as well. I've only seen them in the spring myself. Very nice looking birds.

#8 03-02-2007, 10:24 PM

I know lots of people that raise them...just thought it would be nice to provide nest boxes for them....if this was a nesting area.

If I ever get enough Pheasants & Quail to raise, I may try the Wood Duck ?

#9 03-02-2007, 11:57 PM

Hey Reeves.....Where do these people you know get their eggs/ducklings to raise?....i would be very interested in raising a few of these beautiful little birds

#10 03-03-2007, 09:22 AM

Drake

Get hold of the local fish & feathers & ask about the permits & pens required.
If you still want to go forward, contact me via PM & I'll put you in touch with some people in what ever area you are in. I have contacts all over Alberta, Sask & B.C.

Another way to do it....get your permits & pens in place before the Odd & Unusual sale in Innisfail (sp?) this spring, go to sale & try not to buy too much :lol

I don't go to sales. The risk of bringing a disease back & infecting my birds is too high. (bio-security)
So when I want a new species, I deal with one person only.