walkhighlands

Record your sightings of wildlife and birds on this board - even better if you managed to capture a photo.
Warning Please avoid giving out the locations of nest sites for rare birds.

Eider Ducks

Eider Ducks


Postby Sgurr » Sun May 02, 2021 6:44 pm

Have seen eider ducks mating in the sea, so what are the males doing hanging round the nests on the cliff top. Is it to protect the nests from the gulls or what?

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
Sgurr
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 5679
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:89+52
Sub 2000:569   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:58
Joined: Nov 15, 2010
Location: Fife

Re: Eider Ducks

Postby CharlesT » Mon May 03, 2021 9:20 am

Apparently Eiders form seasonal pair bonds and the male is most likely defending his mate from other males. Males play no part in incubation or caring for the young. Females share these duties across the colony, even laying eggs in other nests and accepting others eggs in theirs. There is a high degree of kinship in Eider colonies and duckling creches can be in the hundreds, all looked after collectively by the females. Sound familiar? :lol:
User avatar
CharlesT
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 4502
Munros:156   Corbetts:2
Hewitts:262
Wainwrights:214   Islands:2
Joined: Dec 22, 2011
Location: West Oxfordshire




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Wildlife sightings

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests