I'll never be accused of overapplying the term "cute," but I will use it
without hesitation to describe yesterday's observation of a female Common
Merganser with her nine fluffy young. I was walking over the 4th Avenue bridge
in Olympia when I saw them. One chick was gingerly stepping back and forth upon
momma's back, while three siblings took the ride sitting down. The other five
young mergs swam frantically to keep up. Cute !
--
Scott Richardson
Olympia, Washington
salix at halcyon.com