BC Hydro is helping waterfowl in the Revelstoke area by installing cavity-nesting duck nest boxes to increase nesting habitat. Between 30 and 50 boxes, one which is being examined in this photo by contractor Mandy Kellner, are being installed at suitable locations near or within the Arrow Lakes Reservoir drawdown zone (flats) from Revelstoke south to 12-mile. The creation and operation of the Arrow Lakes Reservoir limits the establishment of larger trees along the valley floor, which in turn limits the availability of suitable nesting habitat for cavity nesters. Nest boxes are widely used to enhance populations of cavity-nesting birds and occupancy rates are typically moderate to high (50 to 90%).Six species of waterfowl build their nests in tree cavities in the trunks of large coniferous or deciduous trees. The cavities are usually created by woodpeckers or from natural decay. Cavity-nesting ducks include Common Merganser (Mergus merganser), Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Common Golden-Eye (Bucephala clangula), Barrow Golden-Eye (Bucephala islandica), and Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola). BC Hydro would like to thank Revelstoke Secondary School wood shop students for building the nest boxes and look forward to seeing the results of their hard work next spring when the ducks come back to build their nests and raise their young. Jennifer Walker-Larsen photo
