There are survivors and then there are survivors!
I’ve posted other images of this bird in the past but the photo below is new to my blog.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 2500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this female Common Merganser in February several years ago at a local pond. It may look like she’s in the process of taking off but she wasn’t. Instead she’s running across the water in an effort to steal a fish from another merganser. Portions of the pond were covered with ice and we can see some of it in the top half of the frame.
I had no idea she was missing a foot until she rose up out of the water to chase the other bird. She seemed to swim and hunt for fish normally and both are pretty neat tricks with one foot missing. She was the epitome of adaptability.
A heavily cropped version of a different photo of her allows us a better look at her stump. It appears to be completely healed and when she was running on the water she was pumping that stump just like she had a foot on the end of it.
And guess what? In one of those unusual cases where an individual bird is easily identified from year to year she showed up at the pond the following winter.
That bird was a survivor.
Ron
Good for her! Nothing will stand in her way when there’s a good snack to be had! Words to live by. 🙂
Yup, she sets a good example for all of us, Marty.
Mother Natures tests are tough but she gives the ability to persevere as well. I believe we could take notices of how wildlife seems to fight thru many things in order to have life. Wonderful story and great pictures. Hope you can get into the field soon. The sunshine in the valley gave me hope of a change coming and I maybe conditions for you are getting better.
“Hope you can get into the field soon”
Betty, the sun actually came out for a while today and I may have got some interesting shots. Downloading them now but there’s a LOT of them.
Very interesting. Loved seeing her just…persisting.
Yup, she really hung in there!
Good for her! I work in a class of “adaptable”, we all have a strong force to stay alive. So nice to see one who is a successes story.
I agree, April. Thanks.
WONDERFUL.
Hooray for resilient survivors.
Thanks, EC.
I love the first shot. I have never seen this. Thanks!
I’m glad you do, Jean.
Thanks for the uplifting survivor story! Great photos.
Thanks, Joanne.
Great pictures as always !! In amazed at how many one legged birds are out there .especially shore birds . I’ve got one legged great herons. Lots of one legged cranes . Avocets and numerous others . Any idea why?????
Not really, Marina – unless it’s because shorebirds have longer legs and that makes them more vulnerable to leg and foot injury than most other birds. Plus it’s easier for us to spot missing limbs on long-legged birds.
With her overcoming infection by being in water or dragging it in dirt, she was meant to be here. A great story of survival of the fittest. ❤️
Having great weather hope you are as well❗️
Ha, fat chance of that, Diana. Heavily overcast, again. You’d think it could at least bring some moisture with it.
Hmmm…I have never understood Tail docking of any kind….great action shot!
Or ear docking… Thanks, Diane.
Inspirational post. We humans and our animal and feathered friends know how to adapt and overcome. Like the Marines say – improvise. Thanks for posting.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Yup, do what you can with what you have. Thanks, Everett.
WOW! Pretty amazing she’s doing that well with one foot gone – it’s not like their feet aren’t VERY important to getting around/feeding! That it healed without major infection/bleeding is another amazing part of it – circulation must be a bit different in them for our?
Judy, sometimes they get something like fishing line on their feet that cuts off circulation. Eventually the part without circulation falls off, similar to using rubber bands for docking lamb’s tails. At least that’s my understanding.
Ah! That would make more sense as far a surviving it than a flat out amputation……….
OMG, Ron!! God love her!! Mother Nature can be cruel but boy – guts & determination can obviously overcome what nature has dealt!! Wonderful story on your blog today!! And Ron – it just brought back a memory of one of your previous blogs. I’m remembering the injured coyote and how he healed!!
I actually cheered when I saw she was missing a foot and doing so well in spite of it, Jo Ann.
Good memory on that coyote.