Subject: Re: Merganser chicks
Date: May 31 08:49:47 1998
From: Kelly Mcallister - mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov




On Sat, 30 May 1998, S&C Richardson wrote:

> ... 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.

On May 26, I saw a Common Merganser with five downies at the mouth of
Woodard Bay just north of Olympia. At one point all five were able to
perch on mom's back for a ride. It's my understanding that Common
Mergansers nest along streams. I am more accustomed to seeing adult
females with broods in rivers. Perhaps they head head off downstream
to salt water after the young have hatched?

I have a hard time picturing the ones Scott Richardson saw tripping
down the Deschutes river, over the falls and through the fish ladder
at Fifth Avenue dam in downtown Olympia.

Kelly McAllister