Duck Boxes

Since 1994, the Rainbow River Conservation, Inc. and Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve staff have been maintaining over 50 wood duck boxes on the Rainbow River. Old wood shavings, down feathers, unhatched eggs, insects and other squatters are removed each December. The boxes are refreshed with cedar wood shavings, and Irish Spring bar soap is applied to the inside of the lid and the bottom of the box to deter predators. Notes are taken about box condition to plan for future box replacement needs. Five wood duck boxes were replaced this year. One hundred percent usage of the boxes by wood ducks were recorded again this year.