Wildlife Management: Waterfowl

Many species of waterfowl are discussed in the publications listed below. Information on managing different duck habitat types is given as well as directions on how to build different types of boxes for ducks.  Food management for waterfowl is also discussed.

These resources have been compiled from various resources and agencies and are provided here for educational purposes only. Please if you find information that needs to be updated, broken links, or if you have an additional resource you feel is pertinent.

• Wood Ducks in Mississippi
  Mississippi State University Extension Service. A physical description, habitat information, life history, molt information, the duck’s diet and predators, and management suggestions are given in this publication.
  
• Wildlife Food Planting Guide for the Southeast
  Mississippi State University Extension Service. This guide provides information on food planting and habitat management practices.  It covers disturbances that can benefit wildlife if handled properly including disking, mowing and prescribed burning.  The importance of openings is also discussed. Habitat and food necessities for white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkeys, bobwhite quail, mourning doves, and waterfowl are given. A combination of supplemental forages in food planting is often necessary, as well as testing soil quality, fertilizing and liming. The location, size and shape of food plots as well as how to prepare them and which plants to use is included. An extensive guide on planting materials is given.
  
• Waterfowl Management Handbook
  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This handbook contains links to publications about the gadwall, northern pintail, wood duck, blue-winged teal, redhead and black brant. It also has links to articles about waterfowl population and habitat management and the ecology of wetlands
  
• Build a Duck Nest Box
  Ducks Unlimited. Many types of ducks are nest in cavities. This publication gives the directions on building a nest box for these cavity nesters. These directions include what materials are needed, the construction procedure, where to put the box and how to protect it from predators.
• Wetland Management for Waterfowl Handbook - Natural Resources Conservation Service (can be ordered by calling 601-965-4903)
• Winter-flooded rice fields provide waterfowl habitat and agricultural values
  Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University. Rice is not only important to people but also to many species of waterfowl. This publication covers how flooding rice fields in the winter benefits the environment and saves money for farmers. Winter-flooding conserves soil and makes the fields easier to prepare in the spring. It also provides food and habitat for migrating waterfowl. Also provided in the publication are instructions for winter-flooding rice fields and charts and graphs on suspended solids, decomposition of rice straw and the growth of weeds.
• A New Nest Box for Wood Ducks
  Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University. This publication discusses building a nest box that is about half the size of a normal nest box. These smaller boxes are less expensive to construct, lightweight, and prevent hens from laying too many eggs in one box. The type of wood and screws to use is discussed, as well as where to locate the box and how to avoid predators, and when to clean the boxes and check them to get data.