Utilization Of Agricultural Wetlands In A Mississippi River Bottomland By Wood Duck And Hooded Merganser Broods
Forty artificial nesting cavities were placed in 5 wetland areas containing no natural tree cavities suitable as nest sites for wood ducks (Aix sponsa) or hooded mergansers (Mergus cucullatus). These wetlands were surrounded by agricultural fields; wetland sizes were between 0.4 ha and 10.6 ha. In 1976,5 successful wood duck nests were observed. In 1977, II successful wood duck nests and 4 successful hooded merganser nests were observed. Visual searches failed to discern the presence of broods or their hens after the days on which the broods exited their nest boxes. Two wood duck hens...
