What unique management strategy allowed the Western Wood Duck population to thrive despite lacking natural cavities?
Answer
Wood Duck box programs
The Western Wood Duck population faces a distinct environmental challenge compared to its Eastern counterpart: historical Western areas, like California’s Central Valley, often lack the extensive, contiguous lowland timber tracts that naturally supply tree cavities needed for nesting. Because the species are obligate secondary cavity nesters and rely on these holes, the scarcity of natural sites became a limiting factor. To counteract this, management initiatives centered on installing artificial nesting sites, known as Wood Duck boxes. These programs have been exceptionally successful, almost single-handedly boosting the population in areas where natural nesting substrate was insufficient.
Related Questions
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