[Illustration: Illustrated capital I]
In suitable locations artificial sites may be provided for any of the
several wild ducks which ordinarily nest in hollow trees. These ducks,
as breeding species, are mostly northern, the Wood Duck being almost the
only one which regularly nests, except at the higher elevations, very
much south of the northern United States border. The Hooded Merganser
may appropriate the house intended for the Wood Duck, and vice versa.
[Illustration: Figure 3. An easy-to-make box, especially suitable
for ducks. Front and top are slab wood, the rest weathered boards. A
close-fitting cleat screwed to under side of top, as shown, keeps
top in place with help of one easily removable 2½-inch screw. See
Table I, page 16, for dimensions.]
The location is of first importance. This should be a secluded wooded
stream or body of water. The stump or tree which is to form the support
for the house, and also the entrance to the house itself, should be in
plain sight from the water. It may be a hundred feet from the nearest
shore, but the nearer the shore the better. A lone trunk, or one of
several on the edge of a wood, will do. Avoid placing the house too near
the ground. Further specifications are given in Table I and Plate V.