All alone, this Hooded Merganser duckling sought refuge on a floating log, separated from his family. I don’t know for sure what happened to the rest of the ducklings and the mother, but I had heard some reports of dwindling numbers of ducklings.
The duckling seemed to feel safe on the log and appeared to relax a little, but kept looking forlornly out into the distance. Eventually he was joined by a turtle on the log. For a brief moment, perhaps, he felt a little less alone. Deep inside, though, he felt a desire to grow stronger, so he stretched out his wings, fervently believing that someday he would be able to fly.
Where are the others?
Feeling a little more comfortable
Someday I’ll be able to fly
Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
It looks like us，we strive to seek safe feeling and hope not alone！
So true…
We see this scenario played out fairly frequently each spring at our northern Minnesota retreat. We keep a running tally of the number of little ones in the various developing broods (mergansers always among them), and though one or two may occasionally get separated from the rest, they are usually able to reunite. You’re right, though–it’s hard to watch the odd one out and hope that it’s only a temporary separation.
There are some wood duck babies at our marsh, but I have only seen them in a birder’s spotting scope, and some goslings that are getting bigger. Survival of the little birds seems to be a real challenge during the period before they can fly.
I hope there aren’t a lot of snapping turtles in that pond.
There are a large number of snapping turtles, alas, in various parts of the marshland, although the duckling was in one of the areas of open water, where the snappers are less active.
Is that a turtle buddy on the same log? Perhaps the duckling will be adopted temporarily.
At least he will have a companion. I’m pretty sure the turtle is an introvert–he hasn’t come out of his shell.
Loved your words that accompany your pictures; it sounds like life…
Thanks. I definitely see a lot in nature that reminds me of life, both life in general and my life in particular.