I was very happy to see this little pied-billed grebe yesterday, as grebes have been few and far between this year at the marsh, which is unusual. There were at least three pair at the beginning of the season, and one of those pair I know nested, but something must have happened to them. I miss the juveniles, who would congregate at this time of the year and cavort about in the water.
You may recall the picture of the newly hatched pied-billed grebe chicks I posted a few weeks ago. Although I've kept watch, I never saw the chicks again, and after a couple of weeks I was only seeing one of the adults. I occasionally hear the bird making its distinctive yodeling gobble sound, but that's it. It appears as though one of the pair and the chicks may have met with disaster. The lone bird was feeding when I saw it this morning, then headed back to its nesting site.
I couldn't wait to check the grebe nest this morning, and I was rewarded - with two little fluffy bodies with their heavily striped heads showing in the nest. It was difficult getting close enough for a shot, but I was determined.
Yesterday, thanks to the spot focusing feature on my camera, I was able to get a shot of the grebe sitting on the nest I have been watching. I didn't get to the marsh today, and a fellow marsh walker informs me that this afternoon he saw a grebe with 8 to 10 chicks, possibly the same bird! That's a good-sized brood. Generally their clutch numbers 5 to 7. The parents will be busy with this family, as the young are very insistent when they want to be fed.
Yesterday for the first time I heard the distinctive yodeling song of a Pied-billed grebe, and spotted a pair among the reeds. I caught this one this morning as it was feeding. These little birds are my second favourites of the marsh waterfowl, with the Canada geese (particularly the original pair) holding top spot.
I spotted this lone Pied-billed Grebe on the marsh this morning, definitely a straggler. The majority have usually left by mid-October, but it isn't unusual for the odd one to remain into the late fall.
There have been many ducks feeding way out on the water the last few days - blue- and green-winged teals, mallards, ring-necks, American wigeons, and black ducks - plus a few Canada geese and the pied-billed grebes. I caught this juvenile Pied-bill fairly close to the shore this morning.
This juvenile Pied-billed Grebe was swimming all by itself this morning, looking for all the world like a miniature sea monster with that sinuous neck. A couple of days ago, I saw 17 of them in a loose group. I expect they will be around for a while yet.
It was a cloudy morning, so I wasn't optimistic about getting good shots, but I needn't have worried. To start with, there were a number of ducks resting at the end of one of the long berms that stretches out into the water. On sunny days, that spot has the sun behind it, so all you see are shapes. Today I was surprised to see this adult Pied-billed Grebe (top photo) among the ducks - grebes usually stick to themselves - and I don't think I've ever noticed a grebe lying anywhere except on a nest. Sharing the spot with the grebe were these two male American Black Ducks, and one male Blue-winged Teal with wing outstretched (bottom photo).
There seemed to be a convention of Pied-billed Grebe juveniles at the marsh yesterday morning. I saw eleven grouped together, something I've never noticed before. (Three were outside of this shot.) This morning, they were all feeding at the upper end of the marsh.
Last evening I witnessed something new to me in Pied-billed grebe behaviour. I happened to be watching four young grebes when I heard some splashing off to one side. When I looked to see what the commotion was, I saw two adult grebes in a face to face encounter, bodies raised out of the water and splashing the water with their wings. They then settled back down but still faced each other, with their heads raised and black throat patches distended, as in the photo above. Reading up on grebe behaviour, I learned what I witnessed was an example of a territorial display. Apparently one had encroached on the other's territory!
In my reading, I also learned that Pied-billed grebe numbers are declining in New England: in New Hampshire they are classified as endangered; in Massachusetts as threatened; in Vermont as "of special concern"; and in Rhode Island as locally extinct. One of the biggest reasons for the decline is wetland degradation and loss. We here in Annapolis Royal are indeed fortunate to have a wetland that provides ideal habitat for this little charmer.
There seem to be Pied-billed Grebes nesting all over the marsh. It takes binoculars to find them, as most are some distance from the shore. Yesterday I watched this pair, who seemed to be in the process of building their nest. The male had just brought a piece of vegetation to be added to the little floating platform.
I saw the geese take a short flying lesson this morning. I wanted to catch them 'on film', but I wasn't quick enough. I saw the yellow warbler I saw yesterday in the same willow clump, beak once again packed with insects. And I saw another Common Whitetail Skimmer dragonfly - the second within a week - when I've never seen (or noticed) one before. But the cutest thing I saw has to be this little Pied-billed grebe chick pleading with its parent for something to eat.
There are more grebes in the making. This morning, way out on the water I saw this grebe on a little platform she'd likely created out of plant material. As I watched, she settled down and was soon joined by her mate.
I know, not the best quality picture, but if I were to get a closer shot I would have gotten very wet. I hope you can make out that mother grebe has one chick on her back, and another following very close behind. This is the second new grebe family I've seen lately.
The Pied-billed Grebes are my favorite birds on the marsh, after the geese. It's worth taking the time to observe their behaviour, from building their nests, to carrying and feeding their young, to cavorting about in adolescence, to diving or sinking under the water and popping up meters away. Their loud calling sounds make up for their tiny size. I caught this parent (both share care of their young) feeding its chick on June 4th.
