2 thoughts on “Fieldcraft – Birdwatching Magazine, October 2015”
Congratulations Teri, just saw your photo in my October issue of BirdWatching and the story. Would be interesting if you are going to continue observing them, to know if they will continue to separate themselves as in the photo. Good luck in your photography, I have been an avid one for years.
Hi Rosemary! Thank you so much for your comments. I did observe this mixed family once following that day. And yes, about four weeks later I saw this same family and the Merganser spent some time with its foster siblings. But it spent more time by itself. And a couple weeks later I did see a lone Hooded Merganser hanging out with the Geese. I can’t say for certain if it was this one but it looked to be the right age. Another very interesting thing that I saw was these Wood Ducks diving…frequently. Although Wood Ducks have been known to dive, they don’t often do that in their first few weeks. And they are not diving ducks. I wonder if the Hooded Merganser, as a diving duck, has influenced the behavior of these non-divers. We can’t know for certain, of course, but it does seem plausible.
Congratulations Teri, just saw your photo in my October issue of BirdWatching and the story. Would be interesting if you are going to continue observing them, to know if they will continue to separate themselves as in the photo. Good luck in your photography, I have been an avid one for years.
Hi Rosemary! Thank you so much for your comments. I did observe this mixed family once following that day. And yes, about four weeks later I saw this same family and the Merganser spent some time with its foster siblings. But it spent more time by itself. And a couple weeks later I did see a lone Hooded Merganser hanging out with the Geese. I can’t say for certain if it was this one but it looked to be the right age. Another very interesting thing that I saw was these Wood Ducks diving…frequently. Although Wood Ducks have been known to dive, they don’t often do that in their first few weeks. And they are not diving ducks. I wonder if the Hooded Merganser, as a diving duck, has influenced the behavior of these non-divers. We can’t know for certain, of course, but it does seem plausible.