In Seattle, there have been about 100 common mergs--many more males than
females--hanging out at Greenlake. They've been there this winter, but I
am not sure when they arrived. Before the end of '95, I think. Any
Greenlake regular walkers notice? - Irene

On Sun, 18 Feb 1996, Michael Price wrote:

> On Feb 14, Karen Irving and Duncan McLellan saw a tight flock of 60 Common
> Mergansers, all alternate-plumaged males except for four females, on the
> Fraser River at Deas Island Regional Park in South Delta. As it's awfully
> early for the herring and oolichan runs, each several weeks away, and
> usually waterfowl and seabirds that pile in here for those runs don't
> usually migrate until they're over, has anyone any guesses for a) such a
> large concentration and b) such a heavy male presence (obligatory bonding
> joke here)? Inland bodies of water were ice-free at the time.
>
>
>