To protect ducks, local organizations are putting henhouses on Utah Lake

Provo, Utah – On Utah Lake, wildlife organizations are constructing henhouses in an effort to boost the number of ducks.

Beginning last summer, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the Utah Lake Authority, and the Provo Bay Delta Waterfowl chapter collaborated on the initiative.

“It’s been enjoyable to visit and observe how we can enhance the environment for ducks,” DWR habitat restoration biologist Robby Edgel remarked.

“I spent my entire childhood growing up here, on the south part of Utah County, close to Utah Lake. Provo Bay Delta Waterfowl chapter chairman Dallis Davis stated, “I want my kids and other people’s kids to get to experience the things that I’ve experienced growing up in this area.” We build a round nest that is twelve inches in diameter and hangs above the water. It has two wire layers with protective hay in between.”

After flying inside, the hens construct their nest. According to Davis, the project has been successful thus far and is currently in its second year.

“Statistically from Delta Waterfowl, it takes 3-5 years for a nest to be used the first time,” noted Davis. It was impressive that we had 7 out of 12 in our first year and 26 out of 30 in our second. When we returned 30 days later, we were able to inspect the nests once more and found that 11 out of the 26 had been used twice. After moving in, a second hen made a second nest of eggs.”

He continued by saying that volunteers and donations of money are being used to build and maintain these structures. By adding thirty more henhouses by 2025, they hope to treble the number of henhouses for the following year.

Edgel stated, “We can see that there has definitely been a need for structures like this to avoid predation by the high use of the nests.” “Predation has long been a significant issue in Utah Lake.”

They do, however, require state assistance.

There have been incidents of vandalism here. Davis stated, “We’ve had about a dozen nests vandalized and destroyed.”

“We ask that people leave these nest platforms alone and stay a good distance away so that they don’t disturb the nesting ducks,” Edgel said of visitors who come out to the lake to witness the platforms.

Visit deltawaterfowl.org/hen-houses to find out more about the henhouses and how to become involved with Delta Waterfowl.