Red-Necks in the Flathead
By Jeannie Marcure
CLICK HERE FOR .PDF VERSION
|
Hear the Ruby-necked Grebe sing!
CLICK
HERE (.wav file) |
Webster defines a grebe as: “any
of a family (Podicipedidae) of swimming
and diving birds closely related to loons but
having lobed toes.” In western Montana, six
species of grebes are found during breeding
season: Western, Clark’s, Eared,
Horned, Pied-billed, and the topic of this month’s
article, the Red-necked.
I became familiar with Red-necked Grebes a
few years ago when I started exploring local waterways
in my kayak. To avoid the noise and danger of
speeding boats and jet skis, I began to gravitate toward
smaller weedy lakes and ponds; in doing so, I
unwittingly chose the favorite habitat of the Rednecked
Grebe. I was first alerted to their presence
by their hauntingly beautiful call which is somewhat
like the loon. When I found the caller with my binoculars,
I saw a large, long-necked water bird bigger
than most ducks but smaller than a loon. As the
name suggests, it had a distinctive rusty red neck
topped by a whitish chin and cheek and a black cap.
It also had a long yellowish bill and the body was
black. In the summers since, I’ve had many memorable
encounters with Red-necked Grebes and have
learned fascinating things about them.
Like loons, grebes have physical adaptations
that are closely tied to life on the water. Their
legs are set far back on the body to help them swim
underwater; therefore, they have a hard time walking
and are seldom seen on land. Fish-eating grebes
such as the Red-necked have long dagger-like bills
and long flexible necks to help them catch prey.
Their lobed toes, similar to those of a coot, are wellsuited
for propulsion and underwater steering. Although
grebes typically feed near the water’s surface,
dense bones and sleek bodies enable them to
dive up to depths of 90 feet. A stubby tail
cuts down on drag.
Red-necked Grebes arrive from
their winter homes along the Pacific coast in
early spring when the ice has left the small
ponds and lakes that are their favorite
homes. The monogamous pairs choose a territory of
about 10 acres and vigorously defend this territory.
After a courtship that may involve crest-raising, loud
calls and a chest-to-chest head-wagging ritual, a
floating nest is made of reeds, grass and cattails in
water 2-3 feet deep. Sitting quietly in my kayak, I’ve
had the privilege of watching an industrious pair of
grebes carry reeds and cattails to the nest site and
place them around a lily pad or other vegetation.
A successful nest of 2 to 7 off-white
eggs typically hatch after 20-30 days of incubation
by both parents. Over my years of observation,
I’ve seen many nests destroyed by
a sudden rise in water level caused by an
unusually wet spring. When the chicks have
all hatched, the nest is abandoned and the precocious
young often ride on the parents’ backs, tucked
under a wing. Although the chicks are able to swim
and feed soon after hatching, this “free ride” helps
them sustain body heat in cold spring weather and
provides protection from predators such as bass,
pike, gulls, coots and turtles. The downy chicks have
bare spots on their crowns that are normally yellow
but become vivid red when the chick is alarmed or
begging for food. When the chicks are “hitchhiking,”
the other parent dives for small fish and feeds them
as they ride along. I’ve watched many a patient adult
retrieve a small fish over and over before the chick
can successfully swallow it. I’ve read that adults may
dive and swim underwater with a chick on their back
in times of danger but I haven’t been lucky enough
to observe this behavior yet!
Besides their diet of fish, aquatic insects and
vegetation, Red-necked Grebes ingest large numbers
of their own feathers, taken mostly from the
flanks and belly. The feathers are also regularly fed
to the chicks. It is thought that this behavior protects
the stomach and intestines from puncture by parts of
their prey such as fish bones that are indigestible.
Feathers also provide the binding material for the
pellets that the grebes regurgitate.
At present, the conservation status of Rednecked
Grebes seems to be stable. However, like
other fish-eating birds, they are affected by pesticides
that concentrate in the eggshells, causing
breakage and nest failure. Also, the introduction
of non-native fish such as pike into our
lakes threatens the grebes, since the pike will
eat the chicks and compete with the adults
for food.
In the Flathead, Red-necked Grebes can
regularly be seen (and heard) on many of our
smaller lakes and ponds including Lake Blaine,
Smith Lake and Blanchard Lake. If you boat or paddle
on any of these lakes, watch carefully for nesting
grebes and be careful not to disturb them. Sit quietly
and observe their behavior and perhaps you’ll be
lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a patient parent
feeding a “hitchhiking” chick. The Flathead is a special
place. Get out and enjoy all it has to offer!
|
