Restoration of Wood Duck habitat in Nebraska

Bluebirds Across Nebraska has received preliminary approval of its application for a 3-year $15,000 grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund to help fund a new project aimed at restoring wood duck habitat. Wood duck numbers have greatly decreased in Nebraska. Based on the success its members have had in increasing bluebird numbers, BAN believes its members can make a significant impact on the wood duck population. This grant will not be official until April 5th but based on the preliminary approval, BAN will go forward with the project. Many thanks go out to Bill Seibert and Charles Gardner who took on the challenge of writing this grant.

In Year One of the grant, 50 wood duck boxes will be distributed, with 100 additional boxes being distributed during each of the following two years. In order to offset BAN's costs and to insure commitment to the project, participants will be required to pay a program fee of $20.00. The project is limited to 50 participants during the first year and a membership in BAN is required to apply.

Members participating in BAN's Wood Duck Program will receive:

Anyone accepted to participate in this program will be required to monitor their wood duck box on a regular basis and turning in a report at the end of the season is mandatory.

If you are interested in helping restore wood duck habitat through this new program, send a letter to BAN with your name, address, phone number, and the location and description of the habitat where you propose to place your wood duck box. If accepted, you will receive a letter notifying you of the date and location of an educational “Wood Duck Workshop” where you can pick up your box and mounting pole. The fee for program participation will be collected at the workshop/box distribution. Please do not include it with your application. The deadline for submitting your application is February 20, 2004.

If you would like to participate but do not have suitable wood duck habitat, Nebraska Game & Parks has agreed to make the wildlife management areas at various state parks available for BAN Wood Duck Project participants to use for box placement.