Moorhens?

[stephen dewar]

Hi all, there have been Moorhens, two at least, in a nearby pond for as long as i can remember and i'm 43, but in all those years i have never seen any young Moorhens. I have always assumed that the Moorhens are full time residents on the pond but having never seen any young that i can remember i'm wondering if there is an aspect of their lives that i'm unaware of. Could they be breeding somewhere else perhaps? This is the part i find curious, considering they have been such a permanent featrure and also that the pond has reeds and a small islandfor nesting.

Curious

Stephen

[Twitcheruth]

Originally Posted by stephen dewar

Hi all, there have been Moorhens, two at least, in a nearby pond for as long as i can remember and i'm 43, but in all those years i have never seen any young Moorhens. I have always assumed that the Moorhens are full time residents on the pond but having never seen any young that i can remember i'm wondering if there is an aspect of their lives that i'm unaware of. Could they be breeding somewhere else perhaps? This is the part i find curious, considering they have been such a permanent featrure and also that the pond has reeds and a small islandfor nesting.

Curious

Stephen

Hi Stephen,welcome to the forum.

Unless you've just not noticed the youngsters? I haven't a clue as to why you're not seeing them as I would think that if they've been present on the pond for so long that they would have bred at some point??

Hopefully someone else will be able to come up with another theory for your lack of juv Moorhens.

[JONNY74]

I'm with Ruth they must have bred at some point. It could be just that the young are hidden in the reeds for cover when people are about. Try and stay out of sight with a pair of bins next spring to see if they are out and about when there is no human activity. But I am surprised because i've seen young Moorhen loads of times so it is still a mystery.

[Merlin]

Hi and welcome, Moorhens and their chicks are not overly secretive birds, and the young stay with the parents for quite some time. You can sometimes even see them with the second brood in tow. It seems odd for them not to have bred but if Stephen has been keeping his eye on them and not seen any then it would point to them not breeding or the young are being predated each year, I'd also keep an eye out for Mink or the local fox Stephen I think thats where the answer is.

[stephen dewar]

Thanks. Yes every year it's Mallards galore and some of the larger gulls are always swooping down to take them and we have a pretty regular Heron too, just never seen a Moorhen with a chick. Will look again this year.

Ta

Me

[Twitcheruth]

Originally Posted by stephen dewar

Thanks. Yes every year it's Mallards galore and some of the larger gulls are always swooping down to take them and we have a pretty regular Heron too, just never seen a Moorhen with a chick. Will look again this year.Ta

Me

Good luck Stephen.............I saw a Peregrine Falcon take a Moorhen chick in August of this year........quite a sight!

[Neil Rigby]

I have a pond near my office with resident Moorhens. You would often see them in the car park on an excursion with their young earlier in the year.

I'd suggest keeping an eye on them over time and see if you can spot the young.

Predation or camouflage in the reeds may be the answer.

In case you were wondering, Moorhens eat aquatic plants, grass, seeds, fruit, insects, worms, snails etc.