Birdfeeders

While wood ducks aren’t common to all areas, for people who live near the water or have a pond in their backyard, it’s possible to draw ducks to nest near the home.  Wood ducks are fun to watch, and the best part of having ducks in the backyard is that they will return to the same area the following year.  There’s nothing cuter than a gaggle of ducklings following mom and dad duck around.  In order to draw wood ducks to the yard, a few amenities are needed.  For example, wood ducks need a stable source of food, whether that’s berries, seeds, insects, or human provided food like bread or crackers.  Wood ducks also prefer to nest in a soft marshy area, though this doesn’t need to be all that close to the water, it does help to have a water source nearby.  Once a suitable environment has been created, it’s best to have a wood duck house or a few wood duck houses available for nesting.  It’s also best to clean these houses out after use, but ensure they’re left outside so that the human scent isn’t present when the ducks return.

Ducks will often spend time in an area raising their ducklings and nesting, and then move to another area when the weather becomes colder.  Some ducks stay in the same location all year depending on available food and other resources.