They need to get onto the Merganser bandwagon!! However, I love them and their fabulous plumage just the same. Great photo!
Don
August 2, 2023 08:41
I have seen a loon going after merganser chicks on Lake Meech. The mother hustled them to shore. I doubt the loon would see the larger, basking mergansers in the previous photo as food.
Lorraine
August 3, 2023 07:42
I’m horrified to think that Loons might eat Merganser chicks!! Are they really part of the Loon diet?
Mergansers are wary and generally stay near or on the shore, while loons are most often in deep water. I can imagine only an extremely hungry, opportunist loon would hunt a small chick when they can catch fish so easily. I do wish we had a breeding pair of loons on the lake. At the moment we have 4 adults.
Crisp
They need to get onto the Merganser bandwagon!! However, I love them and their fabulous plumage just the same. Great photo!
I have seen a loon going after merganser chicks on Lake Meech. The mother hustled them to shore. I doubt the loon would see the larger, basking mergansers in the previous photo as food.
I’m horrified to think that Loons might eat Merganser chicks!! Are they really part of the Loon diet?
The mother merganser seemed to think so.
Mergansers are wary and generally stay near or on the shore, while loons are most often in deep water. I can imagine only an extremely hungry, opportunist loon would hunt a small chick when they can catch fish so easily. I do wish we had a breeding pair of loons on the lake. At the moment we have 4 adults.