Top Photo: Hooded merganser pair bond display.

The number of mergansers present in our wetlands has steadily decreased as the waterfowl pair up and take off to their own exclusive local ponds. Below is a brief clip of three males vying for the attention of a seemingly disinterested female merganser.

The pair bond is made upon arrival on the wintering grounds, or soon after. The birds may even display copulatory behavior onsite to save time during spring’s return to their breeding areas. The female can store sperm for up to 15 weeks.

What was at one time so important to the drakes during winter becomes less so later on in spring. Once a nest location is determined, the male has little or nothing to do with the care of the young, it’s all up to the female.

As the ducklings are precocial, they’ll be out of the nest and swimming within a day of their hatching. They don’t require much care. Hopefully we’ll one day be able to witness this nesting behavior and actually see the female leading her offspring around the pond. I can’t wait.

Ranger Greg