<div dir="ltr">This afternoon we have had all kind of activity at our wood duck houses. I have seen Wood Ducks in three of the four houses, but this afternoon three or four Hooded Mergansers were flying to the different houses. One of the houses, which had a Wood Duck nesting with at least 15 eggs, had a Hooded Merganser looking out and a couple more trying to get in. The hoodies were rebuffed at a second house where a Wood Duck was sitting with her head out the hole. They appeared to be successfully entering the third house, which has a pole that is not very steady, and has not had Wood Ducks observed flying out. The fourth house was not visible from the window.<div><br></div><div>Just a few minutes ago we had a Wood Duck hen leading 14 young. It appeared that most were Hooded Merganser young. These appeared to be one day old. In a day or two the hoodies will leave the brood and strike out on their own. Hooded Merganser are not strongly maternal. The young will do well on their own. </div><div> <br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div>Steve Weston</div>
<div>On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN</div>
<div><a href="mailto:sweston2@comcast.net" target="_blank">sweston2@comcast.net</a></div></div></div>
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