Common Merganser Day Care

Just before I could set my camera up I witnessed a Common Merganser mother of two, drop her brood off with a larger group. The mother of two headed up stream leaving her offspring with a single female Common Merganser who was already watching 15 young Mergansers. Because ducks forage for themselves from the day they are born, they don't rely on there parents for food. A mother Merganser who looks after multiple broods is also increasing her broods chance of survival from predator attacks. The more ducklings there are in a group the less of a chance one of her own will be a casualty.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Common Merganser
• Ducks
• birds
• baby birds

[gloriavancouver]

Very nice! Check out my Merganser video I have just uploaded. Ours have fewer babies, though - not as sunny here as down in California.