MERGANSER SIGHTING!!!!

[Qwerty3159]

Awesome picture.

They're actually tree nesters, and to me it seems unusual that a female one would just be sitting on a random chimney. Maybe it has a nest nearby!

 

[Isaac 0]

Spoiler: Dead Duck

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

The neighbor has a big dead maple with no top. They have nested in it before, I suspect that’s where they are again.

 

[416bigbore]

The neighbor has a big dead maple with no top. They have nested in it before, I suspect that’s where they are again.

Grab a ladder, We all would like to see a close up picture!

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

I did walk around it but don’t see evidence, my folks are less than half a mile from one fairly major waterway and a multi mile long swamp that borders it, how common is it for a merganser to return to the same spot to nest year after year? Are they monogamous? Will there be a pair?

 

[Qwerty3159]

Normally they'll nest in a hole in a tree and the babies jump out soon after like a wood duck so there probably won't be a lot of evidence, the nest is really only for incubating the eggs and they head for the water ASAP.

Google says they're monogamous and they may return to a good nest site repeatedly. There must be a male somewhere but probably not involved in the caring of the merganser-lings.

 

[birdlover2]

Wow, never heard of this bird before! Are they common anywhere?