This Loon Couple Lost Their Baby, So They Adopted A Duckling
August 13, 2019
Researchers with The Loon Project were shocked when they noticed a mother loon carrying a duckling on her back at Long Lake in Wisconsin.
Credit: LoonProject.org
According to The Dodo, the loon couple had a baby that unfortunately did not make it. So when they saw a tiny duckling all alone without his family, they took him in. The duckling didn't object and happily settled in with his new family.
And because baby loons and ducklings are raised very differently, researchers were unsure how the duckling was getting food.
Credit: LoonProject.org
"We could see that the duckling was healthy and strong — that it continued to grow and thrive," The Loon Project wrote in a blog. "How, we wondered, was a dabbling duck that evolved to pluck and consume small, squishy invertebrates from the shallows surviving with two parents determined to feed it long, rigid, scaly items captured from the deep?"
Surprisingly, the duckling accepted the scaly items.
Credit: LoonProject.org
But it's hard to say what will happen to the duckling as he gets older.
"If the duckling behaves as genes dictate, it will soon join others of its species in huge foraging groups that congregate on lakes at this time of year. But it is thoroughly imprinted on its loon parents, not on mallards. If it has lived too long as a loon chick, it might attempt to associate with that species. Even in this worst case scenario, all is not lost, I think. Full grown mallards, even those that evince inappropriate affection for loons, know that they must bolt when a loon comes stalking them."
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
A Husky Was Lost. Owners Found Him With A Drone - Hanging Out With Bears
NBA Player Invites Old High School Coach To Live With Him After His Wife Passes
Friendly Donkey Serves As A Guide For A Blind Horse
Cat's Face Shows Opposite Of Gratitude After Being Rescued
A First Birthday Reunion Party For The Whole Litter, Mama Pup Included
Dog Completely Changes From Black To White
Can't Stop Laughing: Woman Screams, Runs From Angry Honking Geese
Mom With Cancer Shows Off Her New Wig, Husband's Reaction Has Everyone Laughing
Stuff Mothers Say: Magician Sings Song About All The Sayings We Never Forget
Man And Dog Left Stunned After Cat FLIES Across The Room
The Enchanted Cave Is The Largest Amethyst Cave In The World