Has anyone noticed?

This year I have Buffel head (SP?) in the pond behind the house and hooded mergansers (SP?) in the pond down the road. I’ve seen them move threw in previous years, but this is the first time any have roosted. Has anyone noticed anything similar around the state or am I nuts? (No comments from slider needed.)

The past 2 seasons I felt as though some of the flight moved east. Is there anyone that would agree? I know the Dakotas have been really dry and maybe this is now having an affect. Tell me what your seeing. I’ll see if I can get some pictures. But the camera we own doesn;t let me get real close.

“The past 2 seasons I felt as though some of the flight moved east. Is there anyone that would agree?”

We could only hope Chriss!! My money is on global warming

I have been waiting patiently for someone to crawl under the Dakotas and pull the plug. My guess as to why the mergies and buffies are nesting in MN has got to be the welfare system. It only makes sense….

“The past 2 seasons I felt as though some of the flight moved east. Is there anyone that would agree?”

We could only hope Chriss!! My money is on global warming

I have been waiting patiently for someone to crawl under the Dakotas and pull the plug. My guess as to why the mergies and buffies are nesting in MN has got to be the welfare system. It only makes sense….

I am in Inver Grove Heights and I have a wood duck in a box right now incubating and the same female merganser keeps trying to get in there every morning for the last week. Odd …RR

hooded mergansers nest in the same type of boxes and knot holes as woodducks… but who knows why she is trying to get in if there is a woodie in there??

hooded mergansers nest in the same type of boxes and knot holes as woodducks… but who knows why she is trying to get in if there is a woodie in there??

I remember reading in DU a few years back that hen mergansers will actually lay eggs in with the woodies and have their mother care for and raise them. Damn welfare system.

I remember reading in DU a few years back that hen mergansers will actually lay eggs in with the woodies and have their mother care for and raise them. Damn welfare system.

Welfare system.

That’s funny.

Last year I noticed more hooded mergies and bufflehead during the season, but I haven’t seen any sticking around here this spring. I also haven’t had much time to drive around and check things out.

It was neat to see all of the Scaup passing through a couple weeks ago. Boy do they stand out with the white patches on their backs.

Welfare system.

That’s funny.

Last year I noticed more hooded mergies and bufflehead during the season, but I haven’t seen any sticking around here this spring. I also haven’t had much time to drive around and check things out.

It was neat to see all of the Scaup passing through a couple weeks ago. Boy do they stand out with the white patches on their backs.

Chriss,
What are you seeing now?
I assume that the Hoodies and Buffleheads have disappeared from your area?
They move through every year, giving every indication that they are setting up camp, and then continue to move north.
Even our wood duck boxes up in Nisswa and Pine River area see tons of visiting Hoodies and Buffleheads, even Goldeneyes, but very few have ever nested there.
Good luck
cheers

Chriss,
What are you seeing now?
I assume that the Hoodies and Buffleheads have disappeared from your area?
They move through every year, giving every indication that they are setting up camp, and then continue to move north.
Even our wood duck boxes up in Nisswa and Pine River area see tons of visiting Hoodies and Buffleheads, even Goldeneyes, but very few have ever nested there.
Good luck
cheers

NADA…. As you said they have moved on. We do have a bout 4 nesting paris of mallards between the two ponds.

NADA…. As you said they have moved on. We do have a bout 4 nesting paris of mallards between the two ponds.