To promote wildlife preservation, Boy Scout Pack 43 has been building wood duck (bird) houses along Coyote Creek coming out of Lake Anderson.
Fifteen scouts and their families participated in the service project. The boys assembled the 15 boxes on a Wednesday evening and put them up the following Saturday. Each box has an internal ladder for the ducklings to be able to leave the nest, plus a removable lid for easy clean out. Sawdust was also put in each box for a nest material. To protect the ducks, box lids were screwed shut to keep predators out. The boys and their parents installed the boxes in trees along Coyote Creek near Morgan Hill. Next Spring the boxes will be cleaned out to allow new ducks to nest.
Making and installing wood duck boxes is one of Pack 43’s many community and educational activities. Additional activities include Scouting for Food, Veteran’s Day Parade, creek clean ups, camping and an annual Pinewood Derby.
Cub Scout Pack 43 is part of the Boy Scouts of America Santa Clara Council and is chartered by the American Legion Post 419 of Santa Clara. Cub Scouts is for boys in 1st through 5th grade.
The Wood Duck Nesting Box Program is set up through the California Department of Fish and Game. For more information on Cub Scout Pack 43, visit http:/sites/google.com/site/cubpack43santaclara/.