See Stuff article:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/105755267/extreme-parenting-photographer-snaps-supermum-hen-with-76-ducklings
That is quite a big brood!
Female with 76 ducklings
- ledzep
- Posts: 842
- Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:30 pm
- Location: Wellington
- Contact:
- zarkov
- Posts: 653
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Torbay.
- RussCannings
- Posts: 1216
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2014 5:23 am
Re: Female with 76 ducklings
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
Russ