Nesting Habits of Rednecked Grebes
Last evening we sat on the dock watching the nesting grebes with binoculars. Their is a rhythmic quality to their daily routine. While one grebe incubates the eggs, barely moving other than occasionally turning its head from side to side, the mate is swimming and diving nearby.
After a period of time, without any perceived communication, the swimming grebe will stop diving and quickly swim to the nest. Once alongside he dives and brings gifts of weeds that are carefully tucked under the sitting bird. Then, as fast as a blink of the eye, the nester slides headfirst into the water! Simultaneously as one bird leaves the other enters. It happens so smooth, and fast that it would not be noticed without careful observation. If you turned your head away for a moment you would not know the mate was now incubating eggs.
This pattern repeats itself over and over ceaselessly throughout the day and night. Rednecked Grebe eggs can hatch any time from mid June through the first week of July. So, we may see baby chicks soon.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist
