Digging out splashes for ducks - looking for guidance

[Teal]

Next week I have the use of a digger to create some splashes for ducks alongside a stream/drainage ditch. I was wondering if anyone could provide any advice or recommended reading on this. The deepest point will be the centre of the splash, and should hold water for most of the year with shallowly sloping sides, which should ensure that around the edges the depth of water is always just a few inches.

 

I will try and preserve some of the sod scraped from the top to place back onto the sides of the newly created splash, should I put grass seed on the exposed ground, or wait for natural regeneration.

 

Is there any guidance for overall size of splash, I am thinking of creating a few smaller ones along the stream rather than one larger one.

 

The area is visited by virtually all the duck species on the quarry list, but particularly mallard, teal and wigeon.

Any advice gratefully received!

[ollie]

Hi Teal, I am by no means an expert on this but thought I would give my opinion. I would make one large splash; the reason being that if any ducks are flying by at dark at least the large splash will be more noticable than a series of small ones. As you say it would be best slope the sides to allow an area to feed and also make sure there is a good bank around the splash to prevent the banks bursting when there is heavy rainfall. Good luck.

[starlight32]

Next week I have the use of a digger to create some splashes for ducks alongside a stream/drainage ditch. I was wondering if anyone could provide any advice or recommended reading on this. The deepest point will be the centre of the splash, and should hold water for most of the year with shallowly sloping sides, which should ensure that around the edges the depth of water is always just a few inches.

 

I will try and preserve some of the sod scraped from the top to place back onto the sides of the newly created splash, should I put grass seed on the exposed ground, or wait for natural regeneration.

 

Is there any guidance for overall size of splash, I am thinking of creating a few smaller ones along the stream rather than one larger one.

 

The area is visited by virtually all the duck species on the quarry list, but particularly mallard, teal and wigeon.

Any advice gratefully received!

 

 

Depending on the size of your ground, I would pull in a series of smaller splashes. They cant be too small as duck need to see plenty of water to land, but I just find it seems to attract more duck. Most important is to keep it shallow.

[MC]

My flight ponds aren't that big. The main one I feed is about 50 feet by 30 feet and is a rough oval shape (It is a natural pond so is irregular) and can get up to 3 feet deep although is shallow at the edges.

 

The other one is about 100 feet square with an island in the middle. This one is very deep and is a job to feed once the water table rises so it doesn't get used very often.

 

Long tapered bottom to the pond is the key so you always have shallow edges yet you can feed far enough into the water so rats etc don't gorge on your feed.

[Highlander]

MCs got it about right, shallow with plenty of wavy edges/bays. Ideally you want some cover around the pond. Bank up the spoil to give some wind break and put in some bunker hides at the same time, assuming you want to flight the pond itself rather than just give ducks a resting/feeding area. If the area is big enough put an island in it somewhere.

 

Have you checked with the local water authority because often they take a (very) dim view of randomly scraped ponds along water courses.

[richg]

One piece of advice i would give, is make sure your hides are on the eastern side facing west, so you are facing the last of the setting sun when shooting. Good Luck.