The structures are simple: mesh chicken wire wrapped up into a tub with hay packed in its lining to create an insulated, soft nesting area for ducks.

However, to make sure laid eggs are safe, Kyle Greer, chair of Sunrise Side Chapter, and a handful of volunteers must install welded metal pipes around the lake to make sure nests are three to five feet above the water and away from the lake edge to keep them away from predators.

“We have three holes in the pipe so they’re adjustable for water height,” Greer said. “Then, once we get these together, we will have them facing northeast to keep them out of the direct line of prevailing winds. These ducks, when they find the nests, they’re going to lay at least seven hen eggs.”

Sunrise Side Chapter received a $1,299 grant from the Alpena Youth and Recreation Committee with an original goal of creating 16 nesting structures for the project. In total, Greer said seven members worked on the project with about 32.5 hours put in by everyone.

Courtesy Photo Alex Birch installs a nesting structure in Lake Besser.

Because of higher resource prices, Greer said they could only build 14 structures.

The 14th structure will be used for educational purposes, according to Greer.

Even with fewer structures than anticipated, Greer said the nests will serve ducks even more because of this year’s dry winter.

“Duck numbers are driven solely off of nest success,” Greer said. “Hunting has minimal impact on duck numbers year after year. It’s how well the spring is and this year’s winter and spring were fairly dry. Water levels are down, so the nesting area for these ducks is at a minimum. With us putting these structures in more permanent bodies of water like Lake Besser here, it’s going to provide a nesting location for the ducks in perpetuity.”

Greer said the Sunrise Side Chapter of duck hunting conservation group Delta Waterfowl formed on Jan. 20 and includes local hunters and fishermen who want to increase animal populations, bring more outdoor events to younger generations, and protect the future of outdoor sports.

Courtesy Photo A nesting structure sits in Lake Besser.

“Apparently I’m the old man in the group, and I’m telling you, this is super motivating,” Sunrise Side Chapter Member Alex Birch said. “I’ve taken some people out to mentor waterfowl hunting as they’re growing up. You can’t ever have a first experience again, but you can live through someone else’s and it’s great to see a bunch of young guys getting after it.”

Greer said the chapter and other local conservation groups are talking about getting youth hunts together this fall with more information coming soon.

The chapter is also putting together a four-man scramble at the Alpena Golf Club at 1135 Golf Course Road at 10 a.m. on June 8. The registration fee is $80 and the deadline to register is June 1.

Sunrise Side Chapter’s next meeting will happen at 6:30 p.m. on May 13 at the Alpena Golf Club.

For more information about meetings or other chapter events, contact Kyle Greer at 989-590-0751.

“Us being able to go out and just have these resources around for us to get out and enjoy is the reason that I stayed up in this area, rather than moving downstate for jobs,” Greer said. “I was born and raised in Alpena and I’m going to stay in Alpena because of how close I am to natural resources.”