At a glance
OPG and Ducks Unlimited have teamed up to help wood duck families thrive at the Chats Falls hydro station near Ottawa.
The unique waterfowl, considered to be among the most beautiful ducks in North America, relies on tree cavities and artificial nest boxes to raise their young.
Specially designed duck boxes installed in the wetlands near OPG’s station have proven to be the perfect match for these ducks.
OPG workers check on a specially designed duck box set up on the wetlands near the Chats Falls hydro station.
There are promising signs that wood ducks are spreading their wings near OPG’s Chats Falls Generating Station (GS) in eastern Ontario.
Known for their striking beauty, wood ducks depend on tree cavities and artificial nest boxes to raise their young. To help these unique waterfowl succeed, OPG and Ducks Unlimited Canada have teamed up to enhance the 100-acre wetlands at Chats Falls GS, located on the Ottawa River just east of Arnprior.
The eight-unit Chats Falls GS is capable of generating 192 megawatts of electricity—enough to power close to 200,000 homes.
In 2024, OPG and Ducks Unlimited launched a conservation partnership to install and maintain specially designed duck boxes in the area, with the goal of supporting local wood duck populations. The first three boxes were installed in fall 2024, with another three added in 2025, bringing the total to six so far and more planned for the coming years.
These efforts are already showing results.
In spring 2025, at least one nest box was used by a female wood duck who successfully raised a chick, a moment captured in a charming photo of the duckling peering out from its nest. And during routine maintenance later that fall, OPG’s environment staff discovered soft, downy feathers in several boxes — a signature sign of successful nesting.
The combination of well-designed nest boxes and OPG’s ideal wetland habitat at Chats Falls is proving effective for wood ducks.
As the project continues, OPG and Ducks Unlimited look forward to seeing even more wood duck families, showcasing how targeted conservation can make a real difference for wildlife, one nest box at a time.
OPG has installed duck boxes to support wood duck populations throughout the 100-acre wetland near its Chats Falls Generating Station.
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