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Wildlife Information

You Helped Wood Ducks!

MassWildlife Asked For Boxes, Conservationists Answered

April 28, 2009--Following a February wood duck nest box appeal by the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife), Boy Scouts, sportsmen, school groups, lumber companies, and other conservationists generously answered the call by quickly building nest boxes, donating or discounting lumber, and contributing cash. As of April 27, a total of 280 wood duck nest boxes have been built and delivered to MassWildlife facilities across the state. Some offices report that more deliveries will be made during the month of March. Cash donations of $820 from 18 donors were sent to the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation. These donations are being used to purchase materials needed for building, placing or replacing nest boxes in suitable habitat across the state.

H. Heusmann, Waterfowl Project Leader expressed appreciation for the generous response. "This was a productive endeavor on the part of many people across the state. The immediate and enthusiastic reaction was very gratifying. Clearly, people are listening and willing to help out when a need like this is reported. The response has allowed MassWildlife to meet nest box needs for 2009 and gives us a major head start going into 2010. We appreciate the efforts of other groups and individuals who are still building boxes." Heusmann noted that the agency heard from people who indicated that after seeing the nest box request, they built and put out boxes on their own property.

Local sawmills and lumber companies donating lumber, much of it from locally grown forests, included: Cowls Sawmill of Amherst; Heyes Forest Products, Inc. of Orange; Bellingham Lumber of Bellingham; and Gurney's Sawmill, Inc. of Freetown. Lumber donations were made to groups and individuals building nest boxes. Other companies that were reported offering lumber at a discount to interested groups included Delano Sawmill, Inc. of Dartmouth and Joe's Sawmill in Stoughton.

Answering the call for wood duck nest boxes were sportsmen, Boy Scouts, school groups, and other individual conservationists. A summary of donations to each MassWildlife office is as follows: Westborough Field Headquarters received 64 boxes from the Massachusetts State Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, Army Corps of Engineers and several conservation-minded citizens. The Northeast District Office in Acton received 29 boxes from duck hunters, trappers, and other conservationists. In the Southeast, a total of 123 boxes were built and delivered by sportsmen in Lakeville, Boy Scout Troop 170 of Dartmouth, and members of the Fin, Fur & Feather Club of Mattapoisett. The Hanson Rod and Gun Club in Hanson, the Standish Sportsmen's Association in Bridgewater and a private citizen donated $250 to Regis Bowen of Halifax who purchased materials, built 35 boxes and delivered them to Bourne. In addition, a Bridgewater State College student built boxes that he will place in the Bridgewater area. The Central District office in West Boylston reported receiving 15 boxes from sportsmen along with a donation of 150 board feet of rough cut lumber from individuals in Lancaster and Upton. Additionally, a Boy Scout is building 15 boxes to be erected in Uxbridge. The Connecticut Valley District was the recipient of 71 boxes. 50 of these boxes were a combined effort of Boy Scout Troop 104 and Cub Pack 414 located in Amherst. The remaining boxes were donated by three individuals. Finally, the Western District office received 48 boxes, the results of efforts by students at the Monument Mountain Middle School's Technical Education Club, Webelos Pack 1 in Lanesborough, the Pittsfield Boys & Girls Club and 2 private citizens. Lumber donation was also made by a Lee Sportsmen's Club member and Hinsdale Timbers.

The unexpected high number of boxes has now created a need for posts to hang the boxes. Heusmann pointed out that he has successfully re-used damaged metal u-channel sign posts given to him by municipal highway departments. Highway departments replacing u-channel metal sign posts are encouraged to consider setting damaged sign posts aside for wood duck boxes and contact H. Heusmann at (508) 389-6321 or h.heusmann@state.ma.us for more details.