WOOD DUCK (AIX SPONSA) NEST SUCCESS AND PRODUCTIVITY IN ARTIFICIAL NEST BOXES ACROSS THE PIEDMONT OF GEORGIA

Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) are an important game species throughout North America and rely onnatural cavities for nesting. Wood ducks face ongoing threats from continued loss of forested and wetland habitats, which has prompted mitigation efforts to provide artificial nesting cavities through the use of nest boxes. However, previous research has shown highly variable nest success in nest boxes, mandating continued studies to document factors influencing the effectiveness of nest boxes to improve productivity. I used game cameras and temperature sensors to track nest progress at 4 locations in the Piedmont ecoregion of Georgia, USA. Nest success was low relative to published studies and could be improved with consistent box husbandry. I detected a novel neurotoxin, aetokthonotoxin, in 12% of collected wood duck eggs, indicating potential risk for vacuolar myelinopathy. Wood ducks act as sentinels when their nests fail in unhealthy habitats, therefore prompting the establishment of management efforts.