A decade of dedication to wader conservation
The Lough Erne Wildfowler’s Council (LEWC) celebrated ten years their conservation work by organising a wader conservation conference.
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- - Features
Duck nest tubes – what you need to do and when
As the duck shooting season heads to its close, we approach next breeding season for wild duck in the UK. This is the perfect time to think about taking part in BASC’s duck nest tube project to assist mallard and other duck species, says BASC’s Sophie Stafford.
January
The inland duck shooting season ends on 31 January. If you have duck nest tubes sited already, now is a good time to think about where they are placed and if any changes need to be made to their location, or how the surrounding habitat is managed.
If this will be your first year taking part in the project, consider carefully where your nest tube should be placed.Â
It should be somewhere away from running water and close to vegetation such as reeds, where fledglings can feed and be protected from predators after leaving the nest.
February
If you haven’t already, this is a good time to undertake maintenance on nest tubes used in previous years, or site more if you have the space.
If you are new to the project, this is the time to make and install your duck nest tubes. Contact your local BASC office to provide materials and for help installing the nests.
As mallards can breed year-round in the UK, make sure to check the tubes for any activity before carrying out any maintenance.
If you have shot ducks during the season and collected the wings, send them to BASC for analysis as part of the duck and goose wing survey.
March
Carry out habitat management in the area around your nest site(s). If there are any wildfowl present, try to minimise this work and any other disturbance around or near the sited nests.
If using predator control, Larsen traps and mink rafts should now be set. If you need to manage rodents, make sure you are aware of regulatory changes to the use of rodenticides.
Check general licence conditions when controlling predatory birds such as corvids. Several participants have previously reported their nests being unsuccessful due to predation from these species.
Begin checking the tubes from a distance or by using camera traps if you have them available. It’s a good idea to note down sightings as you see them to keep track over the breeding season, before submitting all your observations to the Waterfowlers’ Network online data form at the end of October.
April-May
Continue carrying out pest and predator control.
Keep an eye out for nesting birds (from a distance). If other people have access to the land where the nests were sites, consider installing signs asking people to stay away from the nesting area to reduce disturbance.
June-July
Enjoy some time sitting and watching activity on the water and monitoring usage.
Remember to also record nests that have not been used and make additional notes if nests have been abandoned/predated/disturbed.
If your site is on an SSSI and you plan to install duck nest tubes, make sure to submit your consenting application to the regulator by the beginning of September at the latest (this can also be submitted any time earlier in the year) to ensure you can install your nests the following January, as this application can take up to four months to be approved.
August
If you plan to provide supplementary feed, take a look at our flight ponds code of practice.
September
The wildfowling season begins, be sure to check the BASC wildfowling code of practice before heading out.
October
Remember to submit your data via the Waterfowlers’ Network online data form by 31 October.
November-December
Commence winter maintenance tasks.
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