Chapter 1: The Marvel of Goldeneye Chicks

Goldeneyes are fascinating creatures known for their precocial nature. Unlike humans, whose young are considered altricial and dependent, goldeneye chicks are remarkably self-sufficient shortly after hatching. These chicks can leap from heights of up to 20 meters without sustaining injuries, a stark contrast to human infants who cannot support their own heads at the same stage of development.

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Section 1.1: A Surprising Encounter

While I was aware that some species evolved with a precocial approach, this knowledge faded as I witnessed a fluffy chick land right in front of my partner and me in a quiet park alley. The tiny bird began making soft chirping sounds while exploring around the tree it had just leaped from, and soon after, another chick tumbled down.

Common goldeneye chick | Watch the first chick's leap from its nest.

Here's a video capturing the moment the first chick jumps out of the tree hollow chosen by its mother for nesting.

Section 1.2: The Nesting Strategy

While the chicks didn’t exactly fall from the sky, they did emerge from the tree hollow where their mother had made her nest. Goldeneyes frequently utilize hollows created by woodpeckers for nesting. Although these locations may appear cozy, the females vacate them immediately after their chicks hatch and do not return. The female goldeneye we observed had the fortune of two openings in her nest, allowing her to peek out regularly to check on her young.

As the chicks attempted to navigate towards the pond independently, the female called out to them, and they obediently followed her lead. The lake was about 300 meters away, an easy trek considering it crossed only one low-traffic path. However, their sudden appearance startled the nearby fishermen.

Chapter 2: A Swift Transition to Water

The goldeneye family quickly dove into the water, and the chicks exhibited impressive swimming skills that suggested they had been practicing for quite some time.

The number of chicks was astonishing—I knew goldeneyes produced a significant number of eggs, but witnessing an adult goldeneye managing a group of seven on their inaugural journey was something else. And surprisingly, seven is not even a large brood for this species, as they can lay up to 19 eggs.

Certainly, we were fortunate to have observed this moment, especially since my partner left their photography equipment behind, and I didn’t have my audio gear. Nevertheless, we did have binoculars, which proved invaluable in ensuring that the mother goldeneye could keep track of all her chicks as they made their way to the pond.

The second video captures the adventure of the goldeneye family as they navigate their new environment, showcasing their natural behaviors and the bond between mother and chicks.

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