Female with 76 ducklings

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
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ledzep
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Female with 76 ducklings

Postby ledzep » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:06 pm

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zarkov
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Re: Female with 76 ducklings

Postby zarkov » Wed Jul 25, 2018 10:36 pm

Duck?
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RussCannings
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Re: Female with 76 ducklings

Postby RussCannings » Thu Jul 26, 2018 7:26 pm

This is a Common Merganser (Goosander as they say in old England I believe). This one female would not have laid all the eggs. While some ducks are brood parasites either intentionally or out of laziness, female mergansers will also take turns looking after the "creche" of youngsters.

Russ

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