Wood Ducks 8 7 



Unless managed to maintain living woody cover, impoundments will, in time, 

 become more open, much like beaver (Castor canadensis) ponds. 



Significantly (p < 0.05) fewer wood ducks were flushed from 1-2 (n = 

 38) than 1-1 (n = 82) and I-3(n=71). Numbers of wood ducks using the impound- 

 ments increased dramatically during autumn. Numbers recorded during flush 

 counts were highest in November: 1-1 (n = 50), 1-2 (n = 20), and 1-3 (n = 45). 

 Decreased density of vegetation within 1-2 probably accounted for fewer ducks 

 flushed. Mortality of woody vegetation was highest at 1-2 in 1992. By fall 1992, 

 almost 90% of the standing vegetation within 1-2 was dead, whereas only about 

 60% had died in 1-1 and within the coves of 1-3 (Table 1). Apparently, the avail- 

 ability of acorns in the two wooded coves at 1-3 attracted wood ducks to these 

 specific sites, which were the only locations on 1-3 where wood ducks were 

 flushed (i.e., no ducks were flushed from open water). 



Wood ducks used I- 1 and 1-2 regularly for roosting during autumn and 

 winter. Roosting activity increased from a low average of seven wood ducks per 

 night on 1-1 and 10 wood ducks per night on 1-2 in September to a seasonal high 

 of 140 per night on 1-1 in November. Dense, low, evergreen shrub cover within 

 1-1 similar to conditions described by Parr et al. (1979), provided attractive roost- 

 ing habitat. Differences in cover apparently influenced the degree to which each 

 site served as a roosting area, because significantly (p < 0.05) more wood ducks 

 roosted under the live vegetation in I- 1 as opposed to the dead vegetation in 1-2. 

 While only 10 wood ducks per day were flushed from 1-2 in November, many 

 more (average 65/night) sought roosting cover at night. Because very few acorns 

 were available within 1-1 or 1-2, we believe wood ducks flushed during the day 

 were loafing and not necessarily actively feeding. The wooded coves of 1-3 were 

 presumably too narrow for use as a secure roosting area. Wood ducks avoided 

 roosting on 1-3, which was mostly open water, thereby underscoring the value of 

 impoundments with thick living emergent woody vegetation for loafing and for 

 roosting. 



MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 

 The presence of myriad, first-order blackwater rivulets and streams in 

 eastern North Carolina offers opportunities for creating many small impound- 

 ments suitable as habitat for wood ducks and many other species. Within a year 

 of construction, small wooded impoundments were used readily by wood ducks 

 for nesting, rearing broods, molting, roosting, and feeding. Depending upon 

 physiographic features of each site (e.g., presence of live, low, woody cover; size 

 of impoundment; topography; presence of preferred mast trees; etc.), use by 

 wood ducks varied among the impoundments, yet certain biological needs were 

 met at each. 



Management goals for waterfowl on small impoundments are best 

 achieved where water levels can be manipulated (Johnsgard 1956). Additional- 



