120 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



ment for a wildfowl breeding pond is to have the banks 

 stoned up and steep, and all the surroundings cleared up 

 for ornamental purposes. Waterfowl like to wade ashore 

 in shallow water, and most kinds nest in low, thick cover. 



Shelter. At least part of the pond should be sheltered from 

 the cold winds, from west to north. Here a protecting bank 

 is all right. It is well if the pond lies under shelter of woods or 

 a grove. Otherwise thick hedges, say of evergreen or other 

 tangle, should be planted, just back from exposed shores. 

 These should not, however, be continuous, as opportunity 

 should be given for breeding birds to retire into thick grass 

 or weeds back from the shore, as some kinds normally nest 

 in such locations. 



Fencing. As would be expected, the area in which the 

 ducks are kept must be fenced with wire, with a view, in this 

 case, nearly as much to keeping out vermin as to retaining 

 the ducks inside. Ordinarily the stock is either pinioned or 

 wing-clipped, which will be discussed later. There is no 

 necessity, as with gallinaceous birds, to alternate the ground, 

 if overcrowding is avoided, so the fence may be permanent. 

 Though a very low fence will keep in waterfowl, foxes can 

 jump or climb six feet, and occasionally more. Eight feet 

 is a good height, though some risk it at five or six. For 

 other details of fencing, see Part I. 



Ground Around Pond. The fence should never be built 

 close around the pond, but always some distance back, 

 preferably concealed by underbrush. Various species of 

 ducks, notably the pintail, shoveller, gadwall, widgeon, teal, 

 and others, in the wild state nest preferably in thick grass, 

 weeds, or low brush, well back from the water. On the 

 Western prairies I have found nests of the pintail in the dry 

 grass about a mile from the nearest slough. Hence there 

 should be a good area of open land enclosed with the slough 



