River Birds

River Birds

The Wood Ducks' Story

For many years these shy and skittish ducks were locally endangered. Over the last few decades their presence has more bountifully returned to our shorelines. How we've enjoyed witnessing the Wood Duck population evolve from ebbing to flowing.

Monday, March 23, 2026. Observations. Around 8 am a male Wood Duck was sitting atop the Wood Duck house. The female was floating and paddling nearby. Around 8:20 am the male hopped off and the two paddled around the Wood Duck house together. After a short time the female took flight and went directly into the Wood Duck house. The male stayed nearby, for some time. When checking 15 minutes later, we could no longer see him, but there were good sized waves out there and it's difficult to see ducks in choppy waters.

After 10:30 am, still no sight of the male Wood Duck. By now the female might have flown out as well. This is typical behavior for them, based on previous years.

✍🏻Note: This is an in-process "experimental" page. Often it will be added to daily. The format has and will continue to change. Since Wood Duck season 2026 has begun, there's no time to make it all neat and tidy. 😊 So hop aboard and hang on, seasons happen fast here. F.Y.I., I'm hoping this "experiment" format will encourage you to not wait for "perfection" or fret about if anyone's interested. Don't wait to start sharing one of your life's interests with others. Enjoy the process! Gardener & Website gal, Lori

The Original

Detailed Observations & Comments of Time-line.

(Note: will delete when new page active. Please be aware, gardening duties happens soon.)

Friday, March 6, 2026 around 8 a.m. (*when opened blinds)

Observation a lone pair swimming around the Wood Duck house. The female jumped on top and began checking it out. She did fly in and after some time flew out again with old nesting matter she dropped in the river. The male waited for her below in the river then swam protectively by her when she flew back out. She went back to the house, then into it for awhile multiple times. The nesting site appears to be her decision.

Comment As is typical some Mallards watched the Wood Ducks activities. When nearby, they kept the male company or swam with the pair when both Wood Ducks were on the river. Mallards and Woodies often hang out. Both the male and female Wood Ducks sat together on top of the house also. After two mornings, the Wood Ducks disappeared. F.Y.I., This time of year they're most active early a.m.

A week later

Observation Two pairs of common Mergansers showed up.

Comment A Wood Duck house is often used by Mergansers as well. We didn't see them flying on to it like the Wood Ducks did or check out the platform, but they did swim nearby for some time. They seemed more interested in diving and eating. The Mallards were not as friendly to the Mergansers as they are with the Wood Ducks. The Mergansers left.

March 15, 2026 a.m., after sunrise.

Observation Wood Ducks! More than three pairs arrived, the female of one pair spent much time on the Wood Duck house, peering in, eventually entering. For a few hours various Wood Ducks flew in and out of the many old trees in the backyards of river lots, looking for knot holes or crevices.

Comment FYI, we have had Wood Ducks nest in a river-facing knot hole of the old Maple tree some 30 feet from the shoreline. How she got her babies out of the tree and to the river was interesting. God helping, will share this later, in proper season.

Observation Also on March 15th, the other Wood Ducks flew dizzyingly fast among the bare branches, which is typical. Sometimes it seems you can hear a whistling sound as they fly. One Wood Duck flapped its wings with it's body in a vertical holding pattern as it investigated a potential spot, in much the same fashion as Hummingbirds do in a territorial stand-off.

Comment We haven't seen this ability in any other duck. Although not scientists, we surmise it's the Wood Ducks relatively short muscular wings that give them the ability to maneuver quickly through tight spaces plus and provide enough "lift" for their unique vertical feat. (Please Note: We're not scientists, just good observers who've watched the birds a few decades. While each year's time-line varies, their nesting requirements and preparations remain the same.

March 15, 2026, Additional Observation/Comment.

After all the Wood Ducks finished their house hunting power shopping, once again, they all disappeared. The weather took a big turn for the worse, so perhaps they just stayed warm somewhere. A possible second reason might be the many trees that have been culled or thinned in the nearby river park. Perhaps they decided there are no longer enough viable nesting spots in our immediate area now. However, we're not able to walk along the majority of the shoreline there to get a closer look. Our concern: If there's not enough nesting sites, will just a few birds want to live more isolated here? Wood Ducks have a flock, flocks require adequate nesting opportunities. Also if all the bushes overhanging the river were removed, since 80% of baby Wood Ducks don't make it due to predators, they'll now have even less hiding spots. Just a few preserved in key spots along the shoreline can really help. Only time will tell.

Excuse My Soapbox Birds and all wildlife need some old growth trees and scattered bushes along and over-hanging the water to reproduce and have adequate protection if babies are to survive. With big birds, over-hanging branches are used for eating and drying off wings. Specific examples of how easy it is to preserve the minimal necessary synergy between wildlife and habitat, whether in one's own backyard- or a park will be shared at a later topic. The phrase:

"All things work together for good", is surely true along a river too.

Thursday, March 19, 2026, Sunrise around 6:30 a.m. A Duck Drama Day.

A Wood duck pair was already busy on and near the Wood Duck house when looking out this a.m. After a few moments, other birds arrived and I witnessed something new. It was very interesting.

Observation and Comment

Upon opening blinds at sunrise, saw the Wood Duck pair already busy on and near the Wood Duck house. The female was atop it, male swimming below. She kept reaching down and sticking her head in the hole. Soon she flew off the roof and joined her mate. He then flew up to sit on the homemade platform below the house, she swam over to the fallen branches in the water and climbed up on them. (All the water birds enjoy sitting and napping on them.)

After some time another couple came into sight. The Wood Ducks went out to join the pair, which I wrongly assumed were more Wood Ducks. A male Mallard joined the confab too. The group of 5 swam one lot north, where another decent branch was in the water. The 2 males "talked" back and forth, animatedly, with one duck on the highest point of the branch. All the group went back into the water and swam south again towards the Wood Duck house. The female Wood Duck once again flew up to the top of the Wood Duck and poking her head in. She soon flew back down to her mate in the water below, but quickly then flew back towards the house, this time into it, not atop. The male Wood Duck sat on the platform then jumped down to swim in front of it.

The other pair finally caught my eye as they started swimming north again. Their rear ends dragged in the water, whereas a Wood Duck's back side is definitely all above the water-line. Then I noticed the strange look of one of their heads. Grabbed field glasses, and sure enough, it was a female Merganser! They have real crazy looking red feathers on top of their heads, and the male looks like a somewhat less colorful Wood Duck, although he does have striking stripes.

Aha! Perhaps the Woodies and Mergansers were having a "discussion" about whose house the Wood Duck house would be this season. And the Wood Ducks won. Why was the male Mallard so interested in all this? That's a topic for the Mallard's page day.

The Wood Ducks stayed on or near the house for most of the morning. Then, once again, they disappeared. That's Wood Duck season.

*** Notice A New Page is in process. Separating the Time-line from Oobservations & Comment section will be easier for you to read and me to write. The Time-line was getting longer and I started researching "odd" behaviors, which turned out not to be that odd.

The new page which will be "Wood Duck Observations & Comments". When it's "good enough will add a button for you to access. The Time-line section will also include a few shorter details for enhancement to those who want to just monitor their daily activities.

It has been great fun observing these creatures every day and discovering many new behaviors which I can capsulize better on a 2nd Wood Duck page. Will include on-line addresses of full articles for those who want to learn more. After gardening and wildlife observing, research is my favorite indoor "sport."

We look forward to seeing what the rest of Spring brings. We can know one thing for sure: If the Wood Ducks and other of our river's water birds no longer have a vibrant future here, God will have other safe places for them to go forth and multiply. Remember: God knows the numbers of even the lowly sparrow, He surely knows the number of Woodies. Don't forget, He knows the number of the hairs on your head, too. ❤️ Matthew 10:29-31 (above) are ideal verses in days such as these.

A verse that's encouraged us through the years.

"'Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30. But the very hairs of your head are numbered. 31. Do not fear therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.'" Matthew 10:29-31

Saturday April 11, 2026. No Wood ducks. Did spot the large beaver swimming north, close to shore.

Friday April 10, 2026. At 7:00 am spotted a Wood Duck male in river by platform and a female atop the Wood Duck house, looking into hole. At 7:01 am the female flew down to river, then immediately took off again and flew into hole. The male waited below. Did a chore. Returning at 7:10 am saw a female Wood Duck sitting atop the house. Did the female fly out already? Was it just an egg dump?** Then spotted a 2nd male Wood Duck flying on to Wood Duck house to join female- as the original male (I assumed) was still swimming below. Soon the pair on top of the house took off together swooping up high above our house. The first male Wood Duck flies up to top of Wood Duck house. 7:15 am The first female Wood Duck flew out of house to river then quickly flew back up to top of house with her mate. They sat awhile. At 7:18 am, I spotted a 2nd female Wood Duck in the old silver maple tree outside our our floor window. (see photo on new page.) By 7:33 am all Wood Ducks were gone. Whew.

Thursday April 9, 2026. No Wood Ducks sighting all day.

Wednesday April 8, 2026. 8:30 am, Wood Ducks flew and swam around the house. 8:35 am, the female flew into the house. This was record breakingly quick. Did a chore then when looking out at 8:45 am, saw a Wood Duck pair swimming north. Question: same pair or different?

Note: 5-10 minutes seemed remarkably fast. Did a quick research on how long a Wood Duck female takes to lay an egg in her Wood Duck nest. It was very illuminating and I discovered a new term: egg dumping. Further details will be in the new page (see below.)

Tuesday April 7, 2026. 6:30-7:00 am no Wood Duck sightings. However the Red-wing Black birds showed up again en masse. Soon another flock of birds- Starlings? began swarming the area as well. The two different breeds looked like waves moving back and forth in the air. The Mallard pair showed up in the water to watch the show. They didn't even attempt to get up on the Wood Duck house & platform area, which appeared to be the epicenter of two the flocks' shenanigans.

** No Wood Ducks showed up all day, however, the Mallards did something so strange in the Wood Duck house area, learned something new- Mallards also will use a Wood Duck house, and why. Further details, article citations, will be in new page (see below.)

Monday April 6, 2026. No sighting of Wood Ducks all day. Giant flock of Red-winged Black Birds swarming the Wood Duck house area. This could be a serious problem which will address in a separate area.

Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, 8:12 a.m. Wood Duck pair flew in and landed on river near Wood Duck house. They swam in area for a few moments then both swam north. No sightings of them rest of day.

Saturday, April 4, 2026. 7 a.m. Wood Ducks flew in and pair landed in water below house. Female flew up to top of house, began reaching her head down into the hole. She soon flew into the house. The male stayed there awhile then swam north. Did not get to see her fly back out.

Friday, April 3, 2026. 10:30 AM A female Wood Duck flew into the house from the river. Male watched over her from the river.

Thursday, April 2, 2026. The Wood Ducks are back and today and it was a big day. But stormy weather, will write details later.

Some Ducks play an April Fools Joke on us. Wednesday,April1, 2026. April Fools Day, 8:10 AM, no Wood Duck. A male Mallard swam around the Wood Duck house as does a male Wood Duck. Something was atop the Wood Duck house so went to get field glasses. It looked like a female Wood Duck was primly sitting atop the house. However, both female Wood Duck and Mallard look alike except for the eyes. A Mallard has a heavy dark stripe over the top of her eye while a Wood Duck has exotically drawn white outlines around hers. Tree branches kept the duck's eyes hidden. Finally the female turned her face towards me and I saw it wasn't a Woodie, but a Mallard, in fact the one from the backyard pair who beg crackers most mornings. She saw me moving about by the window, then quacked at her male. The pair took flight into the side yard. Atop the Wood Duck house she had a real "bird's eye view" of our stirrings inside. No Wood Ducks that day. Did the Woodies and Mallards plan the prank together?

Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 10:40 am Male Wood Duck paddling around near Wood Duck house, assuming female inside. 1:30 PM female Wood Duck's head sticks out entry hole as male Wood Duck below looks up. Eventually she left and they both swam north.

Monday, March 30, 2026. No Wood Ducks.

Sunday, March 29, 2026. No Wood Ducks.

Saturday March 28, 2026, 6:50 AM, Wood Duck couple floating near Wood Duck house. She flew up to edge of hole, looked in and out of it, then went inside. (Details below.) Around 9:00 am, four male Wood Ducks were swimming nearby on the river. One was the mate of Wood Duck in box, others new ones. Later in the morning Wood Ducks were flying among the trees again, one couple was very interested in a tree overhanging river in a big tree other side of lot line.

Thursday & Friday March 26-27, no Wood Ducks. Many Mallards.

Wednesday March 25, 2026, 7:30 am Female Wood Duck standing on house. No male in sight. 8:08 am Wood Duck slips into house. Her mate sat and waited on back corner of the platform. At 8:30 amor so, another Wood Duck pair fly through the stand of trees.9:00 amthe female flew out of the Wood Duck house and joined the male. After paddling around the front of Wood Duck house, the pair swam north.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026. No Wood Ducks all morning. A pair of Mergansers did paddle around for some time, but they left too.

Monday, March 23, 2026. A pair of Wood Ducks are back! From 6:30-7 am, no sightings. Looking out again at 8 am a pair was spotted. Observations/Comments below.

Saturday, Sunday, March 21, & 22, 2026. No Wood Duck sightings all day. The weather was in 70's and mid 60's.

Friday, March 20, 2026. No Wood Duck sighting. Mid morning, one Mallard pair.

Thursday, March 19, 2026, 6:30 am Big drama day. (Observations and Comments below.)

Sunday March 15, 2026, after sunrise. Many Wood Duck arrive. Observations and Comments below.

One week later, after sunrise. Two pairs of common Mergansers.

Friday, March 6, 2026, around 8 am. A long Wood Duck pair swimming around Wood Duck house. Greater details below.

Basic Time-Line of Local Wood Duck for 2026.

(Greater details/comments for each day are below.)

As written above, right now the Wood Ducks are returning. If you zoom in and read a more recent Scripture Rock Garden's posting above, you'll get a general idea about them in our location here.

Please note: the photos and notes above are from one specific year, some time ago. Each year the birds' time-line can vary greatly.

This Fall is our 25th Anniversary. In between gardening, hoping to be able to share about more River Birds we've gotten to know in our years here. We're beginning with the Wood Ducks because they were the first ones we took an interest in and put out a "welcome mat" (Wood Duck house) to encourage more of them to raise their babies here. Looking back, the endeavor has been a lovely success.