Today the Hooded Merganser female showed up on the pond with 15 ducklings. This species nests in a cavity, probably in a tree or stump nearby. Once the eggs hatch, the ducklings follow the mother to water. They fed for a while, then she signaled them to rest. They followed her to shore and gathered under her wings. Well, sort of . . . there were many of them!
They dive under water to find small fish, amphibians, clams, mud crabs, crayfish, tadpoles, frogs, and aquatic insects and other crustaceans. They also consume some aquatic plants.
