Waterfowl are attracted to “habitat complexes” as opposed to a single habitat type.  Managing both native and cultivated plantings provides the best mix for attracting ducks.  Agricultural grains such as corn, soybeans, and rice do not fulfill all of a duck’s nutritional requirements.  However, if agriculture crops are readily available, feeding activity for consuming readily-assessable grains requires less energy than searching for native foods.  For example, green-winged teal in Louisiana spent 33% of their time feeding on natural foods compared to teal in Texas which spent 20% of their time feeding on waste corn.  Therefore, both habitat types provide benefits and should be included in the habitat complex.  Additionally, a habitat complex should contain a rest area for waterfowl.  Too much disturbance from hunting or other activities will cause waterfowl to leave.  Wildlife biologists recommend at least 25% of waterfowl habitat be set aside for resting.  Landowners are also advised to set limits on the number of days per week, or hours per day, that waterfowl are hunted in an area.

Following are examples of habitat types in a habitat complex:

• Small-grain croplands that provide energy-rich food;
• Grassy-weedy areas with various water depths and native plants to provide a diversity of plant and animal nutrition;
• Forested wetlands (e.g., greentree reservoirs, bottomland hardwoods) to provide resting and foraging areas.

You must be able to flood depths of 1 to 15 inches.  Flooding may be done using gravity flow from water stored in a nearby pond or irrigation reservoir.  More risky is relying on fall and winter rains for flooding.  Water depths for the grassy-weedy areas and forested wetlands may be maintained with flashboard risers in levees or water control structures.  Click here for additional information about habitat management. 

If you are unable to provide one or more of habitat types in a habitat complex, cooperate with adjacent landowners to provide waterfowl a diversity of habitat.