Wood Duck Nesting Box Placement at Grand Valley in Allendale, Michigan

In 2009, seven wood duck boxes were placed in the Ravines on the Grand Valley State University property. An additional six boxes are available for placement. Through spatial analysis the most suitable locations for new box placement will be determined. Random tree plots will be established for sampling the number of mature oak trees. The approximate height, size and orientation of any tree cavities found will be recorded. Ideal loafing areas will be based on slow moving, pool forming portions of the river. The current nesting box locations, plots with high densities of oak trees, cavity trees, and ideal loafing sites will be marked with a GPS and made into shapefiles. Distances will be calculated from ideal loafing sites, oak trees, and natural cavity trees. The ideal location will be away from natural cavities, close to loafing sites and oak tree plots. I expect to find that the ravines lack ample tree cavities, but have prevalent loafing sites and food sources for wood ducks