During 1978 and 1979, data were collected on wood duck (Aix sponsa) brood movements, habitat use, and survival in east-central Texas. Radio telemetry of 18 broods indicated most broods left the nesting site immediately after exiting nesting structures. Distances traveled from nesting site to brood-rearing site varied from 0.111.7 km. Overall, duckling survival (N = 167) was 8%. However, survival for 40 ducklings that reached adequate brood-rearing habitat was 48%. Duckling survival and habitat used by broods was positively correlated with an increase in wetland size, length of shoreline, percent floating and emergent vegetation, and percent flooded shrubs, and was negatively correlated with an increase in water depth and percent open water.
