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	Terry A. Messmer NDSU Extension Service
	Michael A. Johnson ND Game and Fish Department
	Forrest B. Lee Great Plains Wildlife Services
NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105

Introduction

This magnificant bird is now in trouble in North Dakota and elsewhere on its breeding grounds. The number of nesting mallards has dropped to but a fraction of its former abundance. This drastic decline is due to habitat loss and low nesting success. Studies of ground nesting mallards have indicated a nesting success of 20 percent or lower. This is due principally to the destruction of nests and nesting females by predators such as fox and raccoon. One way nesting success can be substantially increased is through the use of elevated nesting structures.

This circular contains information and plans for the construction, placement, and maintenance of two types of elevated nesting structures that you can use to increase mallard nesting success in your area.

Messmer, Terry A., Micheal A. Johnson, and Forrest B. Lee.  1989.  Homemade 
     nest sites for mallards.  NDSU Extension Service, Fargo, ND. 8 pp.

Messmer, Terry A., Micheal A. Johnson, and Forrest B. Lee.  1989.  Homemade 
     nest sites for mallards.  NDSU Extension Service, Fargo, ND. 
     Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
     http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/homenest/index.htm
     (Version 02APR98).

• Life History
• Nesting Baskets
  • Wire Basket Structure
  • Fiberglass Basket Structure
  • Nest Material
  • Placement (Wires and Fiberglass Structures)
  • Maintenance (Wire and Fiberglass Structures)
• Conclusion
• References

Figures

• Figure 1 -- Wire Basket Pattern
• Figure 2 -- Wire Basket Assembly
• Figure 3 -- Wire Basket Structure
• Figure 4 -- Fiberglass Basket Structure
• Figure 5 -- Flax Nesting Material
• Figure 6 -- Wire Basket With Flax Straw
• Figure 7 -- Placement of Nesting Structure
• Figure 8 -- Maintenance of Nesting Baskets