It's raining wood ducks! 🦆 Wood ducks nest in hollow trees and when the eggs hatch, the ducklings must jump to join their mother on the journey to the pond. DNR wildlife biologists are researching what types of trees and cavities female wood ducks prefer, which wetlands they bring their broods to, and how successful hens are at nesting and rearing broods year-after-year. This information will be helpful for forest and wildlife management decision making across the forested region of Minnesota.

Wood ducklings jumping from their nest. Wood ducks usually take the leap one day after hatching and they get the 'go ahead' from mom. They can jump as high as sixty feet, but amazingly aren't injured due to their light weight. | Joy of Animals

Wood duck calling out from the branches. Wood ducks are cavity nesters, meaning they typically nest in tree holes or nest boxes. Perching on branches allows them to survey their surroundings for potential nesting sites or predators. | Where's Wildlife

Today, the Wood Duck is often easy to find in suitable habitat within its range. Some might find it hard to believe that as recently as the early 20th century, this species seemed to be sliding toward extinction. How did it manage to avoid the same fate as other North American bird species such as the Passenger Pigeon and Carolina Parakeet? Read on here: https://abcbirds.org/bird/wood-duck/ Video: Wood Duck | American Bird Conservancy