The Wood duck

Sad but True Earl Plato
\A beautiful, crested multicoloured small duck that
reappeared in Marcy Wood pond this spring. Ten years ago a pair nested at the pond area for three consecutive springs. This year just the strikingly male
Wood duck. At Stevensville Conservation Club wood duck boxes were placed near the creek. Hope was to attract a pair. Wood ducks have a habit of nesting in tree cavities. Marcy Woods has a lot of them. This enables tem to breed in areas lacking ground cover. The young leave the nest soon after hatching. I have been told that the parents eject the young unceremoniously. “Time to fly, kids!” Sadly t he Stevensville pond area six wood duckling swam after mother. I monitored the mother and young ones for a few weeks. You know the story. A large snapping turtle took all the little ones. I observed a snapper take one. Audubon Guide says, “Snapping turtles take a heavy toll of them.” I know.