Hatch Watch has begun for Woodie Wood Duck. She has 17 eggs. After Woodie and her babies leave the box I will switch back to Punky the Hooded Merganser.
Welcome to Woodiecam1 2018. The Woodiecams are owned and operated by Rupert Hester @ Holt Lake near Smithfield, NC.
Punky the Hooded Merganser laid her first egg on 2-8-18 @ 7:20 am. Mergansers lay eggs every 1.5 to 2 days.
For the best view of both Woodiecam1 and Woodiecam2 plus social stream go to http://sportsmansparadiseonline.com/wood-duck-nest-box/ (copy and paste). They have the old cam codes that are much better than my website.
Squeaky the Brown Headed Nuthatch has 5 babies. The first hatch was 5-7-17. Takes 19 days to fledge. The population has dropped almost 50% in the last 35 years due to habitat loss.
Punky the Hooded Merganser hatched all 22 eggs after 35 days of incubation on 3-23-17. All 22 babies jumped out on 3-24-17 at 9:20 AM.
The videos can be seen here and at Woodiecam2.
Watch Woodiecam1, Woodiecam2 and chat at my website woodiecam1
You can also donate to the Woodiecams with PalPal or credit cards at my website. I rely solely on donors to operate the cams and to maintain 50 Hooded Merganser and Wood Duck nest boxes on Holt Lake
2016 Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser and Prothonotary Warbler end of season report
444 baby Wood Ducks
79 baby Hooded Mergansers
176 baby Prothonotary Warblers
2015 Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser and Prothonotary Warbler end of season report.
726 baby Wood Ducks
29 baby Hooded Mergansers
200 Prothonotary Warblers.
Below average for the Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers but about 60 more Warblers than last year.
WWD2 and her 16 babies left the box on 5-10-15 at 9:30 AM
Silky Wood Duck hatched 21 of 25 eggs after 37 days of incubation. 21 babies left the box on 5-3-15 @ 7:40 AM.
Woodie Wood Duck hatched 10 eggs on 3-26-15 after 31 days of incubation. All 10 babies made it out on 3-27-15 at 11:55 AM.
Punky the Hooded Merganser hatched 16 of 17 eggs after 34 days of incubation. All 16 babies left the box on 3-22-15 at 9:15 AM.
Hooded Merganser First egg. 1-21-15 @ 7AM, Egg #2 1-22-15 @ 5PM, Egg #3 1-24-15 @ 7 AM. 4th egg 1-26-15 @ 7 AM. 5th egg 1-28-15 @ 7 AM. 6th egg, 1-29-15 @ 3 PM. 7th egg 1-31-15 @ 7 AM. 8th egg 2-1-15 @ 6PM. 9th egg 2-3-15 @ 9 AM. 10th egg 2-5-15 @ 7 AM. 11th. egg 2-6-15 @ 3:30 PM. 12th egg, 2-8-15 @ 7 AM. Egg 13, 2-9-15 @ 3:30 PM. 14th egg, 2-11-15 @ 7:30 AM. 15th egg 2-12-15 @ 5 PM. 16th egg 2-14-15 @ 9 AM. 17th egg 2-15-15 @ 9 PM.
Woodiecam is on facebook "LIKE" to stay up to date and see the latest pictures and videos, search Woodiecam
The hen will take 2 or 3 breaks a day and covers the eggs with down feathers and wood shavings for insulation.
Hooded Mergansers are tree cavity nesters and primarily eat fish and crustaceans. They lay 1 egg every 1.5 to 2 days and hatch from 29 to 37 days. Incubation begins after all eggs have been laid.
Holt Lake 2014 end of season Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser and Prothonotary Warrbler report.
828 baby Wood Ducks
50 baby Hooded Mergansers
148 baby Prothonotary Warblers.
Watch Woodiecam1, Woodiecam2 and chat at my website woodiecam1
The Woodiecams are located in Smithfield, North Carolina.
Free HD picture downloads at my website woodiecam1
Watch the HD youtube videos of the 2013 and 2014 jumps at my website woodiecam1 Click on videos. You can also watch both cams and chat at the website on one page.
2013 End of Season report: 1030 baby Wood Ducks and 27 baby Hooded Mergansers hatched from 65 boxes. 126 baby Prothonotary Warblers fledged on Holt Lake.
Cameras, The inside the box cam is an IR Hawkeye Naturecam. Woodiecam2 uses a Logitech C920 HD Webcam for the Lake View and an IR 500 line Surveillance cam for the closeup view. The HD youtube videos are made with a Canon VIXIA R300 HD camcorder and a GoPro Hero for the wide angle view.
We watched 76 baby Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers hatch and skydive from 5 nests on the Woodiecams live in 2013.
Hen Wood Duck Neusiok and her 12 babies put on a spectacular 4th of July celebration skydive at 7:30 AM EST. Watch the videos at Woodiecam1 and Woodiecam2. All 12 eggs hatched after 30 days of incubation and all 12 made the jump. Neusiok was named after the American Indians that lived along the Neuse River 2 miles from Holt Lake..
Wood Duck Willowemoc's 14 eggs all hatched after 30 days of incubation. All 14 babies made it out of the nest box at 7:15 AM EST on 6/13/13
WoodieFrances Wood Duck and her 14 babies left the box on 5/21/13 at 9:15 AM EST. 14 of 23 eggs hatched after 29 days of incubation. All 14 babies made it out safely. Check out the split screen X3 video. Part HD with splashdown, inside the box and close-up views on 1 screen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fiWOm1RKgI
WoodiePier Wood Duck, 17 baby Wood ducks and 2 Hooded Merganser babies left the box on 4/24/13 @ 10:45 AM EST. Check out the Full HD, Split Screen, wide angle splashdown and close-uo video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkqIBIwxnoo
. WoodieGanser Wood Duck, 19 baby Wood Ducks and 1 Hooded Merganser baby left the box on 3/28/13 @ 9:45 AM EST. A video has been posted. 10 eggs were taken to Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter @ Oak Island, NC.
WoodieNell abandoned her nest due to fishermen to close to the box, loud talking, weekend boating and other human activity.
Check out the companion channel Woodiecam2 for the outside view and more videos.
Questions or comments e-mail woodiecam1@nc.rr.com
2012 was another great year for the Woodiecams. We witnessed 56 baby Wood Ducks from 5 nests leave the nest boxes. The videos are on this site and at Woodecam2.
2012 Holt Lake end of season report;
From 55 nest boxes on the lake,
688 baby Wood Ducks.
12 baby Hooded Mergansers.
136 baby Prothonotary Warblers fledged.
Help the Prothonotary Warblers and Wood Ducks. Donate safe and secure with PayPal or credit cards.
Watch Woodiecam1, Woodiecam2 and chat at my website woodiecam1
Woodiemama Wood Duck and her 3 babies left the box at 7:20 AM EST on July 16. 2012
Woodieladylake and her 9 babies made it out of the box in record time at 8:20 AM on 5/31/12.
Woodiepier Wood Duck hatched 16 of 18 eggs after 30 days of incubation on May 15. She and the babies jumped out on May 16, 2012.
Woodieland Wood Duck and her 14 babies left the nest on May 3rd, 2012 at 9:15 AM EST.
Woodie Wood Duck and her babies left the box at 8:30 AM EST on 3/26/12
Videos of the babies leaving the box are on this site and the videos of the outside view are on Woodiecam2.
Visit my website to see my pictures of Wood Ducks and other birds at woodiecam1
Woodiecam1 is located on Holt Lake near Smithfield, North Carolina. Holt Lake is 600 acres and is 2.5 miles long rimmed with cypress trees.
Wood Duck fun facts from the book "Wood Duck Adventures"
by my uncle F. Eugene Hester: Available from Five Valleys Press.
Wood Ducks normally nest in tree cavities.
Nick name is Woodie.
Genus: "Aix"
Species: "Sponsa"
Fastest flying speed; 55 mph.
Wing beats per second; 7 to 7.5
Wing span; 28 inches.
Weight; Male 1.5 lbs. Female 1.16 lbs
Length; 17 to 20 inches.
Eggs: Normal clutch of 12, The hen lays 1 egg a day. Hatch in 28 to 35 days.
Babies can fly in 8 to 10 weeks.
Survival rate; Less than half reach flight stage.
For more info on the cams and Wood Ducks visit my Website woodiecam1
Questions or comments e-mail woodiecam1@nc.rr.com
