About "Wait for me!"

"Wait for me!" was inspired by a mother Merganser that frequents our cottage on Clear Lake in the heart of the Rideau Lakes System. Shes been coming for a few summers now to raise her own little flock of chicks. One summer she had 18 in total! The photographs that I took for the composition of this piece were taken on a cloudy and showery day so the water and the sky seemed to blend together. This is what lead to the idea of showing only the ducks reflections and no background. The title came naturally as the last chick in the group tried desparately to keep up.

About the Common Merganser

The Common Merganser is a fish-eating duck that rides low in the water on freshwater lakes and rivers. The male in breeding plumage has a white belly, breast, and flanks with a gray rump and black back. The crestless head is dark green, the bill is red, and the eye is dark. The female Common Merganser has a solid gray body with a reddish-brown head. She has a narrow, red, serrate bill and white chin-patch at the base of the lower mandible. The short crest of the female is often not obvious. The male in non-breeding plumage is similar to the female, with some white on his back. Juveniles are also similar, but have a white bar across the face.

Fish make up the majority of the diet of adult birds. Aquatic insects are a primary source of food for young birds. Mussels, crustaceans, and other aquatic creatures are also eaten.

Females usually start breeding in their second year. Pair bonds form in late winter or early spring. Nests are located near water, usually in a large tree cavity, but may also be in rock crevices, under tree roots, and in nest boxes. Nests are made of wood chips and other debris found in the cavity. Down is added by the female. The female usually lays 9 to 12 eggs, although nest parasitism is common. Incubation lasts from 28 to 35 days, and is done by the female alone. The male usually remains near the nest until incubation begins, and rarely stays with the brood once they hatch. The young jump from the cavity within a day or so of hatching and head for the water. The female leads the young to food, and they feed themselves. The young feed mostly by dabbling at first, but after about a week can dive well. Females usually abandon the young before they can fly, sometimes as early as the end of the first week.

Stuart Arnett
Wildlife Conservation Artist