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snorkelady | profile | all galleries >> Birds in the City >> Birding Excursions >> Red-necked Grebes Building a Nest tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Red-necked Grebes Building a Nest

There is a marina that seems to attract Red-necked Grebes. Apparently they are regular nesters in the area. It was raining the day we were there (June 2005), but we saw 2 pairs building their nests. One nest had 5 eggs in it and a young one who had recently hatched was swimming happily around the nest. It was quite amazing to watch mom & dad care for junior and the 5 eggs. The following photos capture nest building, feeding junior a fish much larger than him and mom attempting to shape her body to cover the 5 eggs.
** Note: As of August, the eggs are still unhatched. It is felt that the oil from the Marina has inhibited the hatching of the eggs. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Red-necked Grebe on a rainy day.
Red-necked Grebe on a rainy day.		 No shortage of sticks and grass
No shortage of sticks and grass		 Mom & Dad building a nest
Mom & Dad building a nest		 A team effort
A team effort
Something has caught their eye.
Something has caught their eye.		 This mom has already layed 5 eggs and one has hatched .. see junior watching her!
This mom has already layed 5 eggs and one has hatched .. see junior watching her!		 Getting in position - amazing transformation!
Getting in position - amazing transformation!		 Settled on the eggs with junior by her side
Settled on the eggs with junior by her side
Dad's suggesting that they go fishing for lunch
Dad's suggesting that they go fishing for lunch		 Junior lets Dad know that he is starving!
Junior lets Dad know that he is starving!		 Dad shares his plan
Dad shares his plan		 Dad's off to do some fishing
Dad's off to do some fishing
Dad catches a fish and gives it to junior
Dad catches a fish and gives it to junior		 It's too big and wiggly, junior drops it.
It's too big and wiggly, junior drops it.		 Dad looks for it.......
Dad looks for it.......		 Much to junior's relief, he finds it!
Much to junior's relief, he finds it!
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