There are more wood ducks in Nevada than anyone imagined, according to a study project involving the University of Nevada Reno and Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Dave Menke/USFWS)

Chris Nicolai
Most people are surprised to hear that there are wood ducks in the Great Basin of Nevada. In fact, it turns out there are more wood ducks in this region than anyone imagined.  

An ongoing study involving the University of Nevada Reno and Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge has discovered that wood ducks are using a greater variety of habitats but suffer from surprisingly high mortality rates just before spring nesting season. Since Nevada is the driest state in the union, waterfowl studies have been few and far between.

The Truckee, Humboldt, Carson, and Walker rivers flowing through the Nevada portion of the Great Basin are not the traditional riparian habitat associated with wood ducks in other parts of the country. Biologist Bill Henry at Stillwater NWR wanted to learn what was happening with the wood ducks using these rare habitat types in the Great Basin. Stillwater Refuge, near the terminus of the Carson River near Fallon, is primarily a complex of river marshes dominated by sedge meadows and open wetlands.

The habitat types preferred by wood ducks in the surrounding region are found on a river system dominated by cottonwood woodlands, manipulated to be used as a water delivery system and totally under private ownership. Henry had to find a way to answer his questions on private lands.

As a University of Nevada Reno doctoral candidate specializing in waterfowl studies. I teamed with Henry in 2003; we have been studying wood ducks along the lower Carson River ever since. We have had the privilege of cooperating with many landowners to install nesting boxes and to trap and band wood ducks on their properties. Additionally, the Nevada Waterfowl Association, University of Nevada Reno and Nevada Department of Wildlife have provided support for the Lahontan Valley Wood Duck Project.

Throughout the non-hunting season, we run a series of trapping sites on private properties to band wood ducks. We are able to directly assess productivity and band females and ducklings, which enables us to examine survival and harvest rates. We are working on a relatively isolated population, which results in numerous recaptures of previously marked ducks. In addition, reports of harvested banded wood ducks add to an impressive marked bird population.

Involving the Public:

Approximately 300 nesting boxes have been installed on 15 properties since 2003. They are monitored weekly during nesting season. It appears that our work is paying off. Every year has resulted in more nests being found, more eggs laid and more hatching in the Fallon area. The studies do show high mortality in the pre-nesting season due to an abundance of predators, especially raccoons.

Many of the landowners are frequent participants in nest box monitoring and in banding operations. The trap locations are often baited by local birding enthusiasts who enjoy feeding

birds on their properties and are quite excited by the opportunity to assist in the study. The local birding festival uses this project as the only field trip in which participants actually get to handle wild birds. Local Boy Scout troops build nesting boxes for Eagle Scout projects. All three of the undergraduate wildlife classes from the University of Nevada Reno use this project to help train future wildlife professionals.

While the project’s goal has been to learn more about a unique population of wood ducks, much has been gained by involving the public. Local landowners have built a stronger relationship with the Service. Local residents enjoy having an opportunity for hands-on experiences with wildlife in their own backyards. The public is learning about the needs of wildlife in their midst. The University hopes to continue gathering information as a training project for undergraduates in the wildlife program.