Nursery

FEMALE COMMON MERGANSER (MERGUS MERGANSER) AND YOUNG, GREEN, MICHIGAN, JUNE 13, 2011

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 55-300 at 300mm
1/2000 sec. f10
ISO 1600

This flotilla of merganserlings -- 13 count 'em 13 -- probably is made up of two or more clutches of siblings. The females of the species often appoint one of their number as a feathered day-care center and dump their younguns on her while they go off to work or the hairdresser's. Note the two piggybacking on Mama, behavior common with loons but this is the first time I've ever seen it in mergansers.