Students at Ohio State are building habitats for waterfowl.The OSU student chapter of the Wildlife Society erected two wood duck boxes along the west side of the Olentangy wetlands. Another box has been erected in the new billabong wetland along the Olentangy River. A fourth will be erected near the wetlands in the near future. These boxes are donated by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.Preservation of the wetlands is essential to the wood duck population, and properly maintained and located artificial nesting structures are effective management tools.”Wood ducks need as much habitat as possible, but the boxes probably won’t be used as much the first year as in later years until they become acclimated to these nesting areas,” said Gus Petrie, president of the OSU chapter of the Wildlife Society.Wood ducks are a monogamous species whose peak mating activities are in January and February on wintering grounds. The nesting period is March through July, with a peak hatching period in May.These birds are noted for their brilliant color pattern in the breeding plumage of the male wood duck, which has many hues of purple and green.”Wood ducks are considered one of the most beautiful of waterfowl,” Petrie said.Today, these ducks are the most abundant nesting waterfowl in the state. The ducks form pair bonds on the wintering grounds, but most spring arrivals have already mated. Females return to the same breeding area year after year because of a strong homing tendency.The Wildlife Society is a nonprofit, international group that provides wildlife professionals with conservation methods, resource management, information and skills to benefit society.The OSU chapter has more than 30 members from the School of Natural Resources, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the departments of Biology and Zoology. As a society, members do volunteer work and field experience in their major fields of study.By establishing and maintaining habitat structures, students hope to gain hands-on experience. The chapter also hopes to spark new interest in Ohio’s wildlife.