Not the sharpest photo (!) but what a huge family of wary Mergansers! I’d like to have floated closer but the group seemed to be keenly focused on a pair of nearby loons.
I have heard loons will eat the young chicks if they are available. In any case, Mergansers usually circumnavigate a lake, closely hugging the shoreline, while loons fish in deeper water. It’s impressive how many of these chicks are still thriving so late in the season.
Ruth
August 17, 2014 10:20
I do not believe that loons eat other birds and could not find any information to that effect. They eat fish, and, if a little desperate, crustaceans such as snails. However, fish, such as bass, will apparently eat the Merganser chicks and possibly that is why Mom sticks close to shore – smaller fish, less likely to eat her chicks.
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The level of wariness is reminiscent of meerkats! Do loons prey on mergansers?
I have heard loons will eat the young chicks if they are available. In any case, Mergansers usually circumnavigate a lake, closely hugging the shoreline, while loons fish in deeper water. It’s impressive how many of these chicks are still thriving so late in the season.
I do not believe that loons eat other birds and could not find any information to that effect. They eat fish, and, if a little desperate, crustaceans such as snails. However, fish, such as bass, will apparently eat the Merganser chicks and possibly that is why Mom sticks close to shore – smaller fish, less likely to eat her chicks.