The Southeastern Region of the Fish and Wildlife Service encourages and promotes management activities to increase wood duck productivity on Service lands (USFWS, 2003). Also, wood duck boxes can make a positive contribution to the well being of this species, if they are properly constructed, located and erected, predator proofed, and managed (maintained). Studies in the Southeast have revealed a lack of suitable natural cavities - - even on well-managed forest lands, thus indicating that cavity availability could be a factor limiting populations. Additionally, brood habitat is often lacking, and there is a need to strategically improve brood habitat and the spacing of nest boxes in or near such habitat.
