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Waterfowl Production Increasing the production of certain types of waterfowl may be economically feasi- ble and relatively easy for some landown- ers. The best method of increasing waterfowl production on your wetlands is by providing nearby upland nesting cover. In much of the north central U.S. this may be done by leaving upland blocks of undisturbed native grasses or by convert- ing cropland into dense nesting cover by planting a mixture of legumes and grasses and leaving them undisturbed for 4 to 7 years. In areas of the southern U.S. where wood ducks are the primary nesting spe- cies, large hardwood trees, especially hol- low snags, are necessary for natural nesting sites. Such trees should be pro- tected if maximum waterfowl production is your goal. Duck and goose production may also be increased by providing artifi- cial nest sites. Some types of ducks, such as wood ducks, will readily accept artificial nesting boxes. Such boxes may be hidden in nearby trees or placed on stakes in the open water. Other types of ducks will sometimes nest in basket-like structures placed on poles over the water. Ducks that do nest in such boxes or baskets are easy targets for predators and you should always place a barrier on the nest box pole to prevent predators from reaching the nest. Whenever possible, artificial nest structures should be placed in small openings in the marsh or swamp vegeta- tion. The vegetation will help protect the structure from wind, wave, and ice action. Artificial nest structures can be easily po- sitioned during the winter in northern areas since the marsh will be frozen. Nesting material, such as wild hay or straw, should be added to the structure well before the beginning of the nesting season and the box or basket should be cleaned out each winter. Your local wild- life conservation officer or biologist can 16