[ODFW-News] Wood duck nest boxes placed at Irrigon Wildlife Area

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Tuesday, April 4, 2006
 
Wood duck nest boxes placed at Irrigon Wildlife Area

Pendleton - Twenty-six volunteers of all ages spent a cold, wet Saturday
in March placing 70 wood duck nest boxes along the Columbia River in the
Irrigon Wildlife Area near Hermiston. 
 
Boy Scouts from Troop 700 in Pendleton and members of the Oregon Duck
Hunters Association, the Pendleton Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and other
interested individuals were among those who helped Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife staff with this important project. The nest boxes were
built last winter by the boy scouts.
 
"The scouts were excited to be able to place the boxes on the wildlife
area prior to nesting season and are happy that they will be used," said
Rich Scheele, ODFW's Wildlife Habitat Technician from Pendleton. 
 
Wood ducks prefer to nest in tree cavities, anywhere from two to 65 feet
above ground, and they readily use nest boxes when provided. Scheele
said the new nest boxes should result in an increase in wood duck
reproduction on the wildlife area.
 
Wood duck males are the most colorful waterfowl species in North America
and are highly prized their beautiful plumage. 
 
Irrigon Wildlife Area encompasses 940 acres and has been managed by
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife under a lease agreement with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since 1971. The property was purchased by
the Corps as part of the John Day Dam project. ODFW manages the wildlife
area for wildlife and wildlife-oriented recreation. 
 
"We are very active in wetland and upland wildlife restoration and
enhancement projects on this wildlife area, and it's definitely paying
off," said Scheele. 
 
The wildlife area is open to the public and provides hunting, angling,
hiking, wildlife viewing, photography and picnicking opportunities.
Hunting for waterfowl, upland game birds and deer is permitted during
the respective seasons. Fishing is becoming popular at a number of
access sites on the Columbia River and at several ponds on the area
where anglers catch bass, crappie, bluegill and carp. 
 
The Lewis and Clark Heritage trail runs the full length of the wildlife
area gets a lot of use by hikers and horseback riders. A great picnic
area adds to the enjoyment the area provides. 
 
Over 150 species of birds visit Irrigon Wildlife Area some time during
the year, including songbirds, waterfowl, aquatic birds, raptors and
upland birds. Additionally, 15 species of mammals, eight species of
reptiles and amphibians on the area and four species of fish inhabit the
area.    
 
For more information about Irrigon Wildlife Area, contact ODFW's
Pendleton District Office at (541) 276-2344. 
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