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An Eagle Scout Project That’s Just Ducky
An Eagle Scout Project That’s Just Ducky
By Monique Lynch
When Ryan Lynch, a rising sophomore at the Howard Gardner School and a member of Boy Scout Troop 2950 in Middleburg, was searching for an Eagle Scout project, it made perfect sense to seek some advice from the rangers at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane not far from his home.
“We could use some duck boxes,” Ranger Caleb Goodin told him.
Ryan had some familiarity with bluebird boxes, so building the duck boxes was a perfect fit. Ranger Goodin pointed him to designs available from the Audubon Society website, and Ryan was off and soaring.
According to the Ducks Unlimited website, “wood duck females typically build their nests in tree cavities near wetlands. When a prospective cavity is found, a wood duck hen will land in the tree and carefully inspect the site for a variety of characteristics, including size, shape and security from predators and the elements.
“In many areas, wood ducks have difficulty finding suitable natural nesting sites. Wood duck boxes provide a man-made alternative, where hens can nest in relative safety from predators. The deployment of large numbers of nesting boxes can be used to help increase local or regional populations of wood ducks in areas where natural cavities are limited.”
The Eagle project process is long and detailed. Scouts are expected to create a proposal, and have it approved by the beneficiary and by Troop and District Scout leadership. There are guidelines and requirements for every step, from acquiring materials to financial management to supervision of others during work sessions to final reporting and reflection.
Ryan’s work started last fall and culminated in the installation of four newly constructed duck boxes in four separate ponds at Sky Meadows on April 29. The initial plan was to ask local businesses to support the project with donations of materials, but Ryan quickly learned that many businesses have limited budgets for donations and are more likely to offer discounts. This meant asking family and friends for donations.
An outpouring of financial support allowed him to visit TW Perry Lumber in Leesburg for the cedar wood and Nichols Hardware Store in Purcellville for most of the hardware. Metal predator guard cones were ordered online to keep intruders from climbing the posts to enter the boxes.
The major challenge involved the steel posts needed to mount the duck boxes above the water in the ponds. Most big box stores only carry posts up to 10.5 feet high for fencing. Eventually, Ryan checked with Long Fence and connected with Ken Gallagher, who has worked with Eagle projects in the past and helped Ryan determine the best materials and dimensions.
When Ryan told him he did not have a way to pick up 12-foot steel posts from Chantilly, Ken volunteered told drop them by on his way home. Even better, Long Fence donated the posts.
Ryan formed a network of people with just the right knowledge and skills to help him along the way.
A family friend and Eagle Scout Jason Kolowski, the owner of Piedmont Woodshop, also lent his expertise as a master of woodworking. Jason taught Ryan to safely make the correct cuts and follow the building designs to construct the duck boxes.
Ryan, who started as a Cub Scout in the first grade, will be honored as an Eagles Scout at a special ceremony. This summer, he’ll work as a counselor at Scout Camp Snyder in Haymarket. And surely he’ll spend time at Sky Meadows watching some delighted ducks in their new homes.
