Wood ducks in the wild like to make their homes in hollow trees, but they can feel just as at home in a nesting box. Mike Tucker, from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, shares his knowledge and shows us how to construct this simple house.

Materials:

1 x 12 cedar, 12 feet
Galvanized wood screws
Hinges
Screw eye & hook
1/4-inch hardware cloth, 5 x 18-inches
Wood shavings (not saw dust)

Tools:

Directions:

1. Cut wood to board lengths: 32"(back), 16"(roof), 3 @ 24"(front and sides) and 9 3/4"(bottom)

2. Using jigsaw, cut oval shaped hole in front board. Hole is 3-inches high and 4-inches wide. The center of the hole is located 19-inces from bottom of board.

3. Turn the board over. In the long space beneath hole staple hardware cloth to front board.

4. Attach front board to side boards. Screw through face of front board into edges of side boards. Use counter sink bit to make pre-drilled holes, think will prevent board splitting.

5. Drill 6 drainage holes, evenly spaced, in bottom board.

6. Put bottom piece in place at base of front and sides. It is recommended that the bottom board be set 1/4-inch up from base to prevent rotting.

7. Screw face and side boards to bottom board.

8. Put nesting box face down. Screw back board to sides and bottom. Back board should extend 5-inches beyond top edge of side boards.

9. Turn nesting box over. Attach the roof board to back board with hinges.

10. Attach screw eye and hook to a side board and roof edge to secure roof.

11. Fill bottom with 3 to 4-inches of wood shavings.

12. For instructions for proper mounting and placement of nesting box please visit www.asri.org.

Special Thanks:
Mike Tucker
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
www.asri.org