One Egg in the Grebe’s Nest
May 22, 2006 dawned clear, calm, and sunny. We spent all morning in the boat and found more Red Necked Grebes, Common Loons, and located a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye ducks. I am quite sure that a pair of Mallard ducks have built a nest in the swampy woods next to our house, and to our surprise we found a Grebe’s nest right out in the open seemingly unprotected, with one egg! Although, as we approached the nest quietly by boat the Grebes were out to meet us. We kept a respectable distance.
As the day progressed, the temperatures soared and by the afternoon it was 70 degrees! That is a hot day in this part of Alaska. The temperatures haven’t been higher than the very low 60’s until today. It was like a mating call for sun-hungry Alaskans, and the lake filled up with every kind and style of watercraft made. People were roaring around on jet skis, towed behind boats on innertubes and boards, they peddled small boats, did wake building, water spraying fast turns in high powered speed boats, while others quietly paddled canoes and kyaks. The din and whine of engine noise dominated. You name it, it was here. It is amazing that these beautiful waterfowl continue to feed, build their nests and go about their business in the midst of such frenzy. One would expect them to fly away to quieter places.
By 11:00 P.M. the lake was quiet again and the calls of the Loons, Grebes, Mallards and other water birds filled the air in a melodious repetition of sound, long into the night. I pray that people will not forget about the beauty and harmony of nature and will take the time to observe the fascinating habits of the waterfowl that share this lake, as the lust for “fun” and the aphrodisiac of power behind big high speed engines turn this sanctuary into a self-propelled, man-made theme park.
I fell asleep thinking, maybe tomorrow there will be another egg in the nest.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist
