Western grebes wow with water ballet

When I was a child in the 1960s, my family watched the Walt Disney program on Sunday evenings, like most families. It was one of the few TV programs the entire family could watch together.

I remember a particular show called “Waterbirds,” a 1952 short documentary film about several bird species that live in water. It featured a few minutes of western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) performing mating displays set to classical music. I remember being both shocked and amazed by the natural display. There’s no doubt these early experiences shaped my interest in nature.

Fast forward more than 50 years, and I was leading a photo workshop and tour to see, learn about, and capture images of this very bird — the western grebe. With the memory of that TV show still in my head, we set out to photograph the “rushing” behavior of the western grebe.

The western grebe is the largest of the grebes in North America. It measures just over 2 feet long, with a long, thin neck and a dagger-like bill. It has deep red eyes that stand out against the black cap on its head. A true waterbird, it spends most of its life either on or under water. It is a very fast swimmer, able to overtake and capture small fish – its primary food source.

Advertisement

Most of the time, it swallows the fish while still underwater. I don’t know the last time you tried eating something underwater, but I find this adaptation amazing.

The western grebe is a colony-nesting bird, meaning large flocks – often in the hundreds – gather in suitable habitat and nest together. Nesting areas typically include large stands of cattails or bulrushes. It builds a floating nest or mat using last year’s vegetation. Both the male and female help construct the nest. The female lays up to four eggs, which she incubates.

But the images we were trying to capture were of the elaborate courtship behaviors of the western grebe. Other grebe species don’t display such complex courtship rituals, so we were excited. Western grebes are very vocal birds, giving a loud, raspy call that can be heard from a long distance. A male grebe returning to the nesting colony after fishing in the deeper water of the lake gives a loud call – often answered by another male already in the colony.

The calling male swims toward another, repeating his call. As the two approach, one dips his bill into the water and flicks his head, spraying a small stream of droplets to the side. This is just the start of the display. The two males face off just a foot or so apart, lowering their heads to the water’s surface. Each continues dipping his bill and flicking water to the sides.

After a few seconds, both birds leap up – mostly out of the water – and begin running across the surface. This is called “rushing.” The two, or sometimes more, run side by side with their heads held high and wings slightly open. Their large yellow feet slap the surface of the water. Some rushes last only a few yards, while others stretch for 50 yards or more. Either way, there’s plenty of splashing. At the end of the rush, each bird dives forward, headfirst, disappearing completely underwater.

During the three-day photo workshop, we witnessed and photographed about 30 rushes. Each one was thrilling to see – and to capture on camera. Until next time …

Editor’s note: Stan Tekiela’s NatureSmart column appears twice a month in the Eden Prairie Local News. Tekiela is an author, naturalist and wildlife photographer who travels extensively across the United States to study and capture wildlife images. 

You can follow his work on Instagram and Facebook. He can be contacted via his website at www.naturesmart.com.