Pentagon DU Greenwing Wood Duck Boxes at Mason Neck
Pentagon Chapter GreenWings maintained 30 wood duck nesting boxes on the Mason Neck Peninsula, covering both the Elizabeth Hartwell National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the Mason Neck VA State Park, in 2023. On Saturday, March 16th, 2024, starting at 09:00 AM (08:30 AM for coffee and donuts) our Greenwings will replace bedding in the boxes to prepare them for the spring nesting season while recording nesting results from the previous year. Thanks to their efforts, hard work, and FUN we are pleased to report that the wood duck population in Mason Neck continues to grow and since the program started in 2006 our boxes have produced 1,428 wood ducklings. Last year, woodies nested in 20 of 30 (67%) of our boxes and produced 170 wood ducklings which is our new chapter production record for all the years the program has existed, beating last year’s record by 4 hatchlings. Last year (2023), 22 Greenwings showed up and we continued our partnership with Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) that sponsored our Mason Neck event and has become our chapter’s most important partner with everything we do with GreenWings.WSSI will again be sponsoring Mason Neck this year and our stream clean-up event at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, VA. All GreenWing ticket costs, pizza lunch, coffee & donuts are being provided by WSSI. GreenWing youth attendees will be eligible to win a youth model shotgun at our September banquet on September 21, 2024. Only GreenWings that attend either the Mason Neck or the Huntley Meadows event get a ticket (or both for 2 tickets) and attend our banquet can win. See you in September! We plan to meet at the big parking lot on the state side of the park by the jungle gym/swing set near Belmont Bay off the Occoquan River. The contact rangers at the booth will be expecting you and will provide directions.When: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Saturday, 16 March 2024Where: Mason Neck State Park, Lorton VACost: The event is FREE and all youth participants (Ages 17 and under) must be registered online. The Parent or Guardian can register online and enter the Youth as their Guest. Please complete one (1) online registration for each Youth participant. Online registration will be first come first serve.Bring: Dry clothes and a bag for your wet clothes. Feel free to bring your duck calls, binoculars and a camera. (Bring at least one adult, too)R.S.V.P. to:Sam WilsonPentagon Chairman919.384.5531hswilson09@gmail.comMatt FerryGreenwing Event Coordinator(240) 401-1216 (c)matt.g.ferry@gmail.com
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT UNDERWRITER
www.wetlands.com