A Legacy of Conservation, Education, and Community Impact

For over 30 years, the Mobile County Wildlife and Conservation Association (MCWCA) has championed wildlife conservation through its flagship initiative: The Wood Duck Box Project. Focused on enhancing nesting habitats and fostering a deeper understanding of conservation principles, this program has become a model for hands-on environmental stewardship in Mobile County. What began as a volunteer project for water fowl hunters, quickly expanded to volunteers of all ages.

ducks on a box

OUR MISSION

Creating habitats. Educating the community. Fostering connection with nature.

The Wood Duck Project aims to:

  • Establish and expand habitat for nesting wood ducks
  • Engage participants in the core principles of conservation
  • Promote meaningful interaction between the community and the region’s natural ecosystems

With nearly 1,000 nest boxes installed across the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Dog River, and surrounding watersheds, this project is a testament to what sustained volunteer effort can achieve.

Program HighlIghts

Construction – building boxes, building awareness
Every year, MCWCA sources high-quality lumber to fabricate wood duck box kits. Through community partnerships with local businesses, schools, and environmental organizations, we host volunteer construction events where participants of all ages assemble these kits.

Installation- a muddy, wet, and rewarding challenge
In late winter, February through early March, at the peak of the mating season—MCWCA and volunteers set out to install boxes in prime locations such as Mobile-Tensaw River Delta and Dog River. Many boxes are also given out to privately owned wetlands across Mobile and Baldwin Counties. This challenge brings volunteers closer to nature and to each other.

Monitoring- turning effort into lasting habitat enhancement.
Once installed, boxes are monitored for activity. Over the years, our team has observed nesting by Wood ducks, Whistling ducks, Owls and Squirrels. These findings confirm that the project has a positive ecological impact.