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Cavity Nesting Waterfowl Habitat Program
James R. Potter Alberta Conservation Association
First Red Deer place #404, 4911 – 51 Street
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada T4N 6V4
March 30, 2009
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Disclaimer: This document is an independent report prepared by the Alberta
Conservation Association. The authors are solely responsible for the
interpretations of data and statements made within this report.
Number of pages ‐ 14
Digital copies of this and other conservation reports can be obtained from:
www.ab‐conservation.com
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author acknowledges the following individuals, agencies, and corporations
for their contributions and assistance in delivering the project.
Funding for this year’s project was supplied by two agencies, Ducks Unlimited
Canada and Alberta Conservation Association.
Windsor Plywood is acknowledged for donating materials (plywood) for the
construction of one hundred nest boxes.
The Red Deer River Naturalists donated $100.00 towards nest box hardware.
Thanks to Steve Potter of Delburne for donating his time and saw to cut the
components for 100 boxes and providing stucco wire for nest box sites. I thank
Velma Hudson for reviewing this report and providing editorial suggestions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................... iii LIST OF APPENDICES.................................................................................................... iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ v
1. STUDY RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES........................................................ 1 1.1 Study Rationale .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Objectives of this Report.................................................................................... 1
2. STUDY AREA...................................................................................................... 1 3. EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT ........................................................................ 1
3.1 Habitat Stewardship Pilot Project ...................................................................... 1
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3.2 Multi-media presentation ................................................................................... 1 4. MEDIA EVENTS.................................................................................................. 3 5. FIELD WORK ...................................................................................................... 4
5.1 Nest box construction and installation ............................................................... 4 5.2 Nest box monitoring........................................................................................... 4
6. EXPENSES ........................................................................................................... 5 7. FUTURE PLANS.................................................................................................. 5 8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ......................................................................... 6 9. APPENDICES....................................................................................................... 7
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1. Ducks Unlimited Magazine Conservator, Volume 29-4............................... 7 Appendix 2. Alberta NAWMP Partnership 2007-2008 Progress Review......................... 7 Appendix 3. New nest boxes installed in 2008-09. ........................................................... 8 Appendix 4. Fifteen nest boxes replaced or relocated in 2008-09..................................... 9 Appendix 5. 2008-09 Cavity Nesting Waterfowl Habitat Program expenditures. ......... 10 Appendix 6. Cavity nest box instruction handout............................................................ 10 Appendix 7. List of available reports............................................................................... 12
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The original Buffalo Lake Duck Box Project (1989) was initiated to increase the
population of cavity nesting ducks in the Buffalo Lake Moraine (BLM) and to
obtain additional data on cavity nesting species. Data collected over the first 15
years of the project was used to enhance the long‐ term goal of conserving
habitat. The project has expanded in to the Pine Lake/Big Valley Moraine and
the name has been changed to the Cavity Nesting Waterfowl Habitat Program.
A brochure was produced (Conserving Habitat) in 2004 and 3000 copies were
printed. The brochure focuses on habitat conservation for cavity nesting species
with emphasis on preserving old growth forest habitat. Brochures are
distributed to various groups and individuals as well as electronically through e‐
mails.
In the 2008/09 year, 92 boxes were monitored and 7 new cavity nest boxes were
installed. This brings the total number of cavity nest boxes in the project to 1281.
We delivered five presentations to various groups, two of which included
constructing pre‐cut nest boxes at the seminars. Twenty cavity nest boxes were
donated to various groups and individuals. Three field trips were undertaken;
one in April toured nesting Saw‐whet Owls in the Pine Lake Moraine, one in
May with the Buffalo Lake Naturalists and one at Chapman Lake observing
cavity nesting boxes and mallard nesting tunnels. Two hundred and thirteen
people attended presentations in 2008/09 bringing the approximate number
attending nest box seminars since 1989 to 1407 adults and 1158 youth. A booklet
(Nest Box Guide for Waterfowl – Alberta Edition) was produced in January, 2009
and is available to landowners, various youth groups and conservation
organizations on an ongoing basis.
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Plans for 2009/10 include presentations on waterfowl habitat, cavity nest box
building workshops and field trips, as well as maintenance and monitoring of
existing cavity nest boxes on a five year rotation.
Northern Saw‐whet Owl (immature)
1. STUDY RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES 1.1 Study Rationale The absence of secure nesting habitat is a limiting factor, which negatively
influences productivity of common goldeneye and bufflehead ducks in the
Central Parkland eco‐region. The region has sufficient deep‐water ponds for
brood rearing but lacks mature aspen needed for nest cavities. Nest boxes are
used as a public education tool to create awareness of the importance of
preserving old growth woodlands and to promote land stewardship with co‐
operators and their neighbors.
1.2 Objectives of this Report This progress report is an update on the educational component, media events
and fieldwork of the Cavity Nesting Waterfowl Habitat Program (CNWHP). 2. STUDY AREA The majority of the work with duck boxes has been located in the Pine Lake &
Buffalo Lake Moraines. The educational component of the program
encompasses all of Alberta while inquiries for nest box plans and fact sheets have
come from the Yukon, Quebec, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Minnesota.
3. EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT 3.1 Habitat Stewardship Pilot Project
As a follow up to the pilot project, an article was written in the Ducks Unlimited Magazine Conservator– Volume 29‐4, 2008, Nest boxes give ducks a helping hand. (Appendix 1)
3.2 Multi‐media presentation
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The power point presentation has been upgraded to include data collected from
the Pair/Brood Surveys (1989‐2003) and pertinent information from research
conducted in 2004/05. A new video clip, depicting in‐box camera and outside
video recording of nesting progression in a bufflehead box, synchronized onto
the same screen, has been added. This clip highlights incubation duties, hatching
bufflehead and the young exiting the nest box. This presentation was shown to
181 people in 2008/09.
Nest Box Guide for Waterfowl (Alberta Edition) “The Alberta Guide” was completed in January, 2009 and shared between DUC
and ACA. This booklet contains information and pictures of waterfowl species
that use nest boxes, eggs (including mixed clutches & dump nests), other
occupants such as squirrels, owls, and other possible users like perching birds,
bees, etc. Information on cavity nest box site selection, box construction,
installation, and maintenance is provided as well as short articles on predation
and conserving habitat. Ducks Unlimited had three hundred copies printed (@
approx. $12.00 each). Public education events
• Field Trips
1. 07 May 2008, Kerry Wood Nature Centre, 6 adults observing
northern saw‐whet owls in nesting boxes, also goldeneye and
bufflehead nests. They watched the CNWHP presentation as
well.
2. 29 May 2008, 7 Buffalo Lake Naturalists toured “Potter’s Seep”,
observed nesting goldeneye, lady slippers, flowering shrubs,
various birds and amphibians.
3. 09 September 2008, Chapman Lake field trip. Approximately 25
people attended a field trip around the lakeshore, discussing
nest boxes and tunnels. The tour was a follow up to the
EnCana‐Ducks partnership media event held at the
Conservation Easement site on Chapman Lake.
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• Presentations and workshops
1. Ponoka Fish & Game youth camp – July 21, 2008
• 20 youth and 5 adults attended the presentation and built
several nest boxes.
2. Red Deer Fish & Game Club
• The CNWHP was presented to 22 adults at the regular
monthly meeting (17 Feb) of the sportsmen’s club.
3. Junior Forest Wardens – 18 March. 2009.
• 39 adults & 44 youth attended the seminar.
• March 20 – The JFW group constructed 10 duck nesting
boxes and 15 Mountain Bluebird houses. The various
components were supplied by ACA.
4. Red Deer River Naturalists – 26 March, 2009.
• Nest box presentation to 44 adults and 1 youth at the regular
meeting of the Naturalists.
5. Pine Lake Conservation BBQ & Info Session
• Display booth (June 19, 2008)
4. MEDIA EVENTS
ACA & the CNWHP were featured in several magazines in 2008/09.
• Alberta NAWMP Partnership 2007/2008 Progress Review.
Honor Roll: Jim Potter (pg 9) (Appendix 2)
• Magazine Article – DUC – Conservator, 29‐4 2008
“On the Fly” – EnCana/Ducks Partnership
• Magazine Article – DUC – Conservator, 29‐4 2008
“Flyway”, Habitat Stewardship pilot Program, Nest boxes
give central Alberta ducks helping hand.
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• Red Deer Advocate, September 10, 2008
Wetlands Preserved
• Mountain View Gazette, September 16, 2008
Conservation Agreement preserves wetlands near Pine Lake.
• Red Deer County News, October 3, 2008
Nesting box Design and Maintenance (pg 14, 15)
5. FIELD WORK 5.1 Nest box construction and installation
Windsor Plywood donated material for 100 nest boxes in 2008/09, including
cutting ¾ inch plywood into strips lengthwise.
• Components for 100 boxes were cut and available for box construction.
• Seven new boxes were placed, 7 of these with new cooperators.
• Twenty nest boxes were donated, 2 to individuals, 2 to a Boy Scout group,
10 to the Junior Forest Wardens and 6 went to the Ponoka Fish & Game
youth camp.
• The locations, landowner information and box type are listed in Appendix
3.
5.2 Nest box monitoring
Ninety‐two nest boxes were monitored for use, GPS locations were taken, and
nest results recorded. A paper file on each box location with landowner
information is located in the Red Deer ACA office for future reference. This file
is updated as conditions change and also contains a map for each box showing
the access points and approximate location marked on a section sketch.
Locations are also recorded on a topographical 1:50,000 map sheet.
• 8 boxes were down (dead trees) and one of these was missing.
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• Five boxes were replaced, 3 of which were old boxes in need of repair and
two of which were missing.
• Boxes replaced and/or relocated in 2008/09 are listed in Appendix 4.
• Ducks, kestrels and owls utilized 80% (74) of the boxes
• Two of the boxes were used by small birds (1 swallow, 1 wren).
• Bees used only 2% compared to 4% last year, 5% had starling activity and
squirrels used 20 (22%, similar to last year) boxes.
6. EXPENSES Program costs for 2008/09 are summarized in Appendix 5. Donations came to
approximately $933.47, DUC provided $10,000.00 in partnership funding and
ACA provided $5917.92 for a total cost of $15,917.92.
7. FUTURE PLANS We will continue to provide presentations to groups requesting information on
cavity nesting species and the CNWHP. This may include seminars consisting of
building and/or placing nest boxes in the field and field trips to existing cavity
nest boxes and wetland habitats.
Landowners of nest boxes scheduled for monitoring in 2009/10 will be shown the
a presentation on cavity nesting waterfowl and habitat retention, and provided
with an air photo of their property showing nest box locations and highlighting
preferred habitat for the target species.
The “Nest Box Guide for Waterfowl”, Alberta Edition, is available for interested
participating landowners and in limited quantities to various interest groups.
New copies, printed on recycled paper (non‐glossy) are scheduled to be printed
for 2009/10.
We will develop an instruction handout (Appendix 6) for cavity nest box
construction showing the components and measurements. This handout will be
provided to interested participants and made available to the general public at
tradeshow displays and on‐line (www.ab‐conservation.com).
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8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A list of available reports on the nest box program is contained in Appendix 7.
These reports can be obtained through the Alberta Conservation Association
office, Red Deer.
Chapman Lake field trip
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9. APPENDICES
Appendix 1. Ducks Unlimited Magazine Conservator, Volume 29‐4.
Appendix 2. Alberta NAWMP Partnership 2007‐2008 Progress Review
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Appendix 3. New nest boxes installed in 2008/09.
Box # Land location Landowner Type1 1275 5 SMITH, JIM LG 1276 5 ANDERSON, DOUG NG
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1277 BOY SCOUTS, Mike LG 1278 BOY SCOUTS, Mike LG 1279 NW 3 37 25 4 MUNROE, M NG 1280 NW 3 37 25 4 MUNROE, M NG 1281 RUSSELL, R NG
1 NG = new goldeneye, B = bufflehead, M = merganser, LG = large goldeneye, LM = large merganser.
Appendix 4. Fifteen nest boxes replaced or relocated in 2008‐09.
Box # Beaver Disrepair Down Tree Gr Dead tree Missing Replaced 608 X X X X 1141 X 515 MOVED X X 510 X 435 MOVED X 1140 MOVED X 623 X X X 502 MOVED X X 501 MOVED X X 675 MOVED X 630 MOVED X X 692 X X 1008 X X X X 663 X X X 432 MOVED X X
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Total 11 8 1 10 4 5
Appendix 5. 2008‐09 Cavity Nesting Waterfowl Habitat Program expenditures.
Partner and In Kind $ Partner funding
Ducks Unlimited Canada 10000.00
Other Red Deer Naturalists 100.00
In‐kind donations Steve Potter
Stucco wire, saw & cutting labor 210.00
Windsor Plywood Plywood, materials 623.47 Expenditures Vehicle fuel 155.22 Vehicle chargeback and maintenance 2700.00 Phone 400.00 Equipment 81.99 Miscellaneous 95.91 Wages (480 hrs) 12784.80 Total Expenditures $15,917.92
Appendix 6. Cavity nest box instruction handout.
Potter / Allen Duck Box
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Nest Box Measurements in Inches Large Box Medium Box Width Length Width LengthBack 10.25 31.75 7.75 24 Door 10.25 13.5 7.75 11 Floor 10.25 10.25 7.75 7.75 Stop 10.25 4 7.75 3 Bottom Strip 10.25 2 7.75 2 Sides-2 11.75 23.75 9.25 18 Front 11.75 10.25 9..25 7.75 Top Strip 11.75 2 9.25 2 Roof 13.25 16 10.5 12
Entrance dimensions: Goldeneye – 3.5 X 4.5 Bufflehead – 2.5 X 3 Common Merganser – 4 X 5 Hooded Merganser – 3 X 4 Kestrel – 3 inch Saw-whet Owl – 3 inch A 4x8 sheet of ¾ inch plywood will make 2.66 “large” duck boxes or 4.54 “medium”. Have the sheets cut lengthwise with a table saw (or at the lumber yard) then use a radial arm saw to cut into the various components. Measurements may be adjusted to optimize use of plywood. Construct with 1 ½ inch deck screws. Door hinges on two 1½ in. nails, secured with a two‐headed 2½ inch nail predrilled (one size larger than the nail) at 45 degrees through a side into the door. Situate shallow saw cuts one inch apart on the inside of the door and below the entrance hole to assist the ducklings when exiting the box.
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Appendix 7. List of available reports.
Report Title Year Multiple nesting in (same box, same year) 1990 Nest box placement/monitoring 1993 Mixed clutches, dump nesting, clutch size 1994 Seven ‐ year summary of boxes – BLM 1995 Nest box designs, twinning 2003 Starling – population dynamics 2004 Goldeneye – population expansion in Big Valley 2004 Winter nest checks versus summer 2005 American Kestrel Nest Box Results 2005 Northern Saw‐whet Owl Nest Box Results 2005