Pamperingcampers Blog

I’ve been counting down the days and reading to figure out the signs of Merganser nesting behavior so I’d know when to start watching for Jumping Day. Like Wood Ducks, they only stay in the nest for 24 hours. That’s a very small window and I do have other responsibilities. All I found was that they hatch in 29-37 days; typically 33. Today is day 33! That is, if I counted correctly? After I noticed that a pair of Hoodies were hanging around the nest box and the female regularly spent time in it, I checked it for eggs when they weren’t around. I didn’t see any but her behavior was a sign that they were forthcoming. Then I read that she’ll cover the eggs, with nesting materials, before she leaves. As wildlife are creatures of habit, I checked the nest at the same time everyday. One day, she was sitting on the nest when I checked. So I watched carefully to notice that she was in the nest box longer than she was out of it. This is the day I began counting to determine their Jumping Day.

Maybe this documentation of a Hooded Merganser nesting behavior will help someone else who is anxiously awaiting Jumping Day?

I’ve been setting my alarm for 5:30am everyday this week. Mama Hoody left the nest, to feed upriver, everyday between 5:45-6:10am. I have a tiny camera on a stick for peeping in while mama is gone. We also have a security camera aimed at the box. As of yesterday morning, there were no hatchlings. This morning, I didn’t see her leave. At 7am I checked the security camera to see if I missed it; but I didn’t. So I stood behind the nest box to listen. There was a LOT of activity. Normally we could hear knocking only when mama duck turned the eggs. But today there was mostly scratching. So I went back in the house to watch. She flew out to feed at 7:07am. I listened again and there was still a lot of activity. There’s my sign of the hatch! Ducklings left in the nest! Mama came back but left again at 9:30am. Before she’d leave she’d always sit at the door for a few moments; maybe to check for predators before she left. She came back into the nest after about 15 min.

At 10:30am she came back up to the door and sat there for almost 2 hours. This was new behavior! I’m thinking it’s getting close!? But when did they hatch? They only stay in the nest 24 hours after hatching. Did they hatch yesterday? Overnight? Early this morning? Would they jump today or tomorrow? She left again. I might have startled her though. I’ve been watching her, with camera set up, from our deck and got cold. So I wrapped up in a blanket to keep the cold wind off me.

Mama merg didn’t stay out long; returning in about 10 minutes and went down inside the box. 30 minutes later she reappeared at the door, for maybe a minute, then flew down to the closest water’s edge. Then I heard lots of peeping and here they come! The wind was gusting through the trees so loud that I could not hear mama Hoody at all. Seven ducklings jumped, one at a time, and made their way to mama on the Alsea River. Jumping, from 1st to 7th ducklings, lasted less than 7 minutes.

Oh, and by the way, it was high tide when she called her babies out. Our nest box is mounted on a tree next to a coastal river that is affected by the tides. Although there’s no proof, I think her timing could have been on purpose. The journey from nest to water’s edge is shortest at high tide.

Hooded Merganser Jumping Day video