Wildlife photographer @brentcizekphoto captured this incredible photo of a Common Merganser mother with an adopted brood of 50+ chicks!!!#NatureIsBeautiful pic.twitter.com/yxha63ZKVn
— PROTECT ALL WILDLIFE (@Protect_Wldlife) July 4, 2018
A wild life photographer in Bemidji, Minnesota was mesmerized by the mesmerizing scene of what appeared to be a mama duck with 76 ducklings.
MAMA MERGANSER! I was able to track down the now famous Lake Bemidji Common Merganser that has an adopted brood of over 76 babies! I love the story that these photos tell.
Full gallery: https://t.co/wg8xioJBIG#audubonsociety #minnesota #bemidji #duck pic.twitter.com/c0Jycct4HX
— Brent Cizek (@brentcizekphoto) July 17, 2018
Brent Cizek captured the images in a series of photos of the incredible Merganser duck squad earlier this summer.
Spent another morning with the mergansers. They are growing so fast. They continue to venture further out on their own, but as soon as Mama Merganser starts heading somewhere, they all quickly follow suite. Count is still at 70+. pic.twitter.com/MkIRc0wUnZ
— Brent Cizek (@brentcizekphoto) July 23, 2018
But if you’re like many, you’re wondering how the amazing phenomenon happened.
KARE11.COM reports, all of the ducklings are not fromthe same flock, according to Minnesota DNR Wildlife Manager Dave Rave:.
“What happens is one adult takes the broods from a whole bunch of other Mergansers and they form a creche. That is what you see in picture, one adult female with a whole bunch of ducklings, some of which are hers some came from other ducks.”
Though it appears to be common, photographer could not contain his excitement as he continued capture photos and video.
I LOVE THESE BIRDS. pic.twitter.com/mCKJeiYMUh
— Brent Cizek (@brentcizekphoto) July 24, 2018
Another beautiful morning on Lake Bemidji.
Full gallery: https://t.co/3jz4NjnxVD pic.twitter.com/iBkC9NzLTu
— Brent Cizek (@brentcizekphoto) July 24, 2018
A few crude videos of Mama Merganser and her 70+ brood: https://t.co/m9Oe95YwCn
— Brent Cizek (@brentcizekphoto) July 22, 2018
