Was that a duck I saw?

lakershaker · 07-17-2005, 06:16 PM

At Rattlesnake this weekend we saw 8 baby ducks, I think. At first I thought they may be loons, but when I got home on the internet, they didn't look like baby loons. They had black bodies with white spots, and their heads were a reddish brown. There were no parents with them, and they kept making chipping sounds. I have seen some loons this year, more than in the past, so that is why I initially thought loons. But it seemed strange the chicks were alone. Anyone have any ideas what it is I saw? In 25 years on Rattlesnake, I have never seen birds like these. Sorry I don't have a picture, I left the camera in the car

KPW · 07-17-2005, 06:35 PM

It sounds like merganzers (sp?). The parents may have been killed by a loon. I have seen loons go after ducks.

SAMIAM · 07-17-2005, 07:39 PM

Pooo-o-o-or little duckies......lost their mom....give them some bread

ApS · 07-17-2005, 08:11 PM

Yeah, it was a merganser.

I had a single chick yesterday doing the same, pathetic, cheeping sounds while he passed under my dock. Before I had a chance to think about it, mama showed up.

I have no idea why I was so relieved -- there's no rescuing baby birds.

Mama was probably out looking for food, and the baby "got lost".

They'll probably come by tomorrow, and don't be surprised if there are one or two more -- or less. Parents sometimes acquire babies through such mixups.

Newbiesaukee · 07-17-2005, 10:50 PM

Agree they were mergansers. The sex difference in adults is striking and unusual. The females have greyish bodies and rusty red heads and are very elegant. The males are black and white and superficially are loon-appearing as the dark green heads also appear black.

Grant · 07-18-2005, 08:31 AM

Mergansers:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...sort=1&cat=509

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...sort=1&cat=500

lakershaker · 07-18-2005, 08:41 AM

Thanks, those were definately what they were. Hopefully they got picked up by a mama bird along the way.

07-17-2005, 06:16 PM	#1
lakershaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rattlesnake Isl. - Simsbury, CT Posts: 274 Thanks: 91 Thanked 46 Times in 28 Posts	Was that a duck I saw? At Rattlesnake this weekend we saw 8 baby ducks, I think. At first I thought they may be loons, but when I got home on the internet, they didn't look like baby loons. They had black bodies with white spots, and their heads were a reddish brown. There were no parents with them, and they kept making chipping sounds. I have seen some loons this year, more than in the past, so that is why I initially thought loons. But it seemed strange the chicks were alone. Anyone have any ideas what it is I saw? In 25 years on Rattlesnake, I have never seen birds like these. Sorry I don't have a picture, I left the camera in the car

07-17-2005, 06:35 PM	#2
KPW Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 398 Thanks: 735 Thanked 118 Times in 59 Posts	Was that a duck I saw? It sounds like merganzers (sp?). The parents may have been killed by a loon. I have seen loons go after ducks.

07-18-2005, 08:31 AM	#6
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,501 Thanks: 377 Thanked 231 Times in 125 Posts	Mergansers Mergansers: http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...sort=1&cat=509 http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...sort=1&cat=500 __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

07-18-2005, 08:41 AM	#7
lakershaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rattlesnake Isl. - Simsbury, CT Posts: 274 Thanks: 91 Thanked 46 Times in 28 Posts	Definately what I saw Thanks, those were definately what they were. Hopefully they got picked up by a mama bird along the way.

07-17-2005, 07:39 PM	#3
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,905 Thanks: 337 Thanked 1,680 Times in 589 Posts	Pooo-o-o-or little duckies......lost their mom....give them some bread

07-17-2005, 08:11 PM	#4
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,939 Thanks: 2,209 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Yeah, it was a merganser. I had a single chick yesterday doing the same, pathetic, cheeping sounds while he passed under my dock. Before I had a chance to think about it, mama showed up. I have no idea why I was so relieved -- there's no rescuing baby birds. Mama was probably out looking for food, and the baby "got lost". They'll probably come by tomorrow, and don't be surprised if there are one or two more -- or less. Parents sometimes acquire babies through such mixups.

07-17-2005, 10:50 PM	#5
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,354 Thanks: 949 Thanked 573 Times in 298 Posts	Agree they were mergansers. The sex difference in adults is striking and unusual. The females have greyish bodies and rusty red heads and are very elegant. The males are black and white and superficially are loon-appearing as the dark green heads also appear black.