If there was a mother of year award given out to water fowl, a Common Merganser mama duck wading and waddling around Bemidji, Minnesota, would certainly win the prize.
Last week, a local photographer, Brent Cizek, 32, captured an adorable shot of the mother duck followed by upwards of 50 fuzzy ducklings and posted the surprising image to his Instagram and Twitter. The Audubon Society soon took notice, and more folks in the immediate environs of Bemidii began to see the massive quacking brood out and about. Cizek told the Audubon that he’s seen a Common Goldeneye mother duck with around 20 babies following behind in the past, but nothing on this level before.
Since his lucky encounter on July 16, Cizek has continued to track the growing family, which currently boasts a 75-plus headcount. PEOPLE reached out to Cizek, an inventory specialist for an e-commerce company and wildlife photographer on the side, to learn more about this unique flock.
At the end of June, Cizek says he ventured out to the local lake, Lake Bemidji, on a scouting trip to look for wildlife and good photography locations. “I was on the water for about 15 minutes before I first saw the large group and was completely shocked,†Cizek tells PEOPLE. “I had never seen any kind of bird with that many babies. They were acting pretty skittish, so I backed off and let them be.â€
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https://people.com/pets/mom-duck-76-baby-ducklings-minnesota-photos/More pics and video at link.
