Comments on: Merganser Moms

By: Matthew Sarver

Matthew Sarver — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:42:09 +0000

Hi Lynn – Thank you so much for reading and I’m glad you found the post helpful. 72 chicks is amazing! I’ve never heard of a count that high. That must have been one STRESSED OUT mom!!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:27:35 +0000

I live on Lake Simcoe in Canada, the province of Ontario. I have been reading through all the web sites describing Common Merganzer behaviour. Specifically I am interested in their brood amalgamation as you have refered to it. Routinely I have seen every large broods. This summer I counted 72 chicks and only one poor MOM. Your is the first site I was able to get some information on this behaviour. I have been referring to it as birdie daycare. I was very intested in the selection of the mother that got let with the job. Thanks for shedding some light.

By: Matthew Sarver

Matthew Sarver — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:31:16 +0000

Doug – interesting story. I wonder if something scared the putative hawk off of his prey before he could finish it?

By: Doug Harbaugh

Doug Harbaugh — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:18:03 +0000

A black snake in our backyard met an untimely end when it got caught in the netting used to protect a Japanese Maple tree from hungry herbivores. Entanggled in the net and unable to escape it became easy prey for we suspect a hawk. The unknown preditor left behind enough of the snake that we guess its length to be 36 – 40 inches. We will miss that snake, he kept other pests in check for us.