Yesterday morning was windy at Bear River MBR but it would take more than a little wind to curb the curiosity and enthusiasm of the many grebe chicks at the refuge. I saw Western Grebe, Clark’s Grebe and Pied-billed Grebe chicks but I had the most fun with Clark’s.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Many of the youngsters are still very small so when you see an adult it can be difficult to know how many chicks (if any) are buried in the feathers between the wings of a parent. At this age the behavior of the young birds is quite mercurial, alternating between sleep and active curiosity or frenzied food-begging in an instant.
This little guy noticed its other parent closing in and reached far forward in apparent anticipation of a food delivery.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
But a very slight change in position (just enough to reveal the eye) allows us to confirm that there were actually two chicks on the back of the parent. The second chick, though it appears to be slightly larger, seemed to be the most sedentary of the two. Perhaps it had recently consumed a meal and was feeling drowsy as a result.
I enjoyed finally spending some time with grebe chicks this season. Because of my recent Montana camping trip and other life events, yesterday was my first real opportunity with them. Hopefully it won’t be my last.
Ron
The first photo…Love it..”Where are we going Mom?” That’s amazing they can carry more then one chick.
Jean, It isn’t unusual for them to carry three when they’re young, don’t think I’ve ever seen more than that.
Ooooh.
Again.
Laura’s repetitive WOWs too.
And yes, on the much better parenting front. If only our superior species could recognise how often we are at the back not the head of the pack. On so many issues.
Thanks, EC.
I have always heard it said “The harder you work the luckier you get” and I agree with that. OR, “You must have a really good camera”. Don’t even get me started on that.
Phyllis, I’ve actually had the “really good camera” comment made right here on my blog.
Precious! Great photo. Enjoyed the education into the life of the Grebe!
Thanks, Linda.
Wonderful shots! The baby in the first looks like your typical backseat driver…
You’re right, Patty. It does!
Beautiful, I love the photos, it is something I have yet to see for myself. Maybe this weekend if it is not raining birds in boxes at mt door. I think I have seen the DNR officers more this year than any other year. From the number of baby owls we have received injured or orphaned I would say the numbers must be high for owl nests this year.
I’m very sorry to hear that about the owl nests, April. Good luck in getting out this weekend.
It’s a happy-making sight. Thank you for sharing that joy.
Thanks, Arwen.
Back-brooding Grebe chicks always make me smile. Thanks for starting my day off well.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Susan. Thank you.
Great shots Ron! Always a fun subject!
Each early morning day trip is different and an experience for you.
I can understand when you devote a great deal of your retired life and your time luck is replaced with knowledge and skill.
I am convinced that you are a very skillful, knowledgable photographer and I bet you have similar skills to an able Indian tracker and hunter.
Thank you for sharing you knowledge and skills with us, it is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Dick, but I’d be a poor tracker with these old eyes of mine. It’s a good thing I don’t have to depend on that skill in order to eat!
You and me both!
However, I would bet when you were younger you had the ability!
Brings a huge smile to my face and a laugh – GREAT pictures, Ron. Wind was awful here yesterday as well. I know luck plays only a small part in it – LOTS of practice and observation. 🙂 Watching Nighthawks yesterday evening and thinking they would be a REAL challenge in flight. 🙂
“Watching Nighthawks yesterday evening and thinking they would be a REAL challenge in flight”
I’d agree with that, Judy. Sadly my nighthawk flight shot folder is EMPTY! Haven’t even seen any so far this year.
What an outrageous series of images, Ron! And yes, you are lucky, but that luck is the residue of design, isn’t it? First, you gotta be there, waiting patiently (or not as the case may be) for that image to come to you. THANK YOU again for being there!
And yet another example that parenthood is pretty universal across species with only little adjustments to fit the individual realities of specific species. One of my joys of this time of year is watching how wild parents parent their young and I maintain we humans could learn a lot from them.
One of the big issues is they don’t put up with bad behavior from their kids–it won’t serve them as they grow into adults, so any behavior that doesn’t work for their overall survival is extinguished rapidly. I watched last night as the youngest of the Cornell Hawk redtail kids tried to get rowdy with his mother over a dried-up remainder of some critter or other left on the nest. She corrected him immediately with only the redtail stink eye and the threat of action before the kiddo thought better of challenging his mother.
Agreed, Laura. If human parents were as consistent in their parenting strategies as wild animal parents usually are the world would be a much better place.
It really would be a lot nicer and more polite and respectful 😉
Right now, I’m listening to one of the Cornell redtail kiddos screaming at the top of its air sacs that s/he is starving to death. Yes, *I* believe that–thousands wouldn’t, but yes, I DON’T! LOL! They really get obnoxious about now, but they’re starting to chase and catch bugs. Many folks think they’re teenagers now, but that doesn’t happen until next spring when the hormones hit. Think hormonal teenager with a bottle of tequila and the car keys to go with those talons! YIKES!
Laura,
That’s the second time I remember you mentioning hormonal redtails in the recent past. One was with females at this time of year and now you’re talking about yearlings with hormones kicking into gear the first time. The comment “Think hormonal teenager with a bottle of tequila and the car keys to go with those talons!” brings up interesting questions in my brain. As a birder, would I be able to notice the changes in their behavior while watching from a distance? What do they do with bravado we night notice?
Ron,
I think the young grebes are so cute in your photos. I haven’t seen them in the wild – but I’m keeping my eyes open for them in the field.
Hi Pam!
I’m not sure you could see the signs of what I call Annual PMS in wild birds or not without watching individual birds consistently over time. I noticed it the first spring with “my” redtail (who is no more mine than the air I breathe–seriously). The key was knowing her normal behavior and then seeing the change, followed by watching various nest cams intently and seeing the same kind of behavior.
In her first year, Mariah (the redtail who hangs out with me), was a typical kid in her behavior from November 5 when I first met her until roughly mid-March. She was often silly, showing me the upside-down head and just being a goofball while also a serious hunter. Then, one day, she just wasn’t. She shot me a look that struck a familiar chord in my mind–that time when it was just not wise to mess with me until the hormones cleared my system, paired with the memory of what it felt like the first time *I* went through that! She’d never looked at me with that stink eye look before, but to me, it was clear. Shortly thereafter, I bent down to pick up a molted feather and she nailed me in the back!
From then until roughly July, she was a MAJOR trial. I fed her in her mews, requiring that she fly to the fist for her food. One day, she was her normal self, and the next, she flew at me with deadly intent, coming in high and fast with talons! She was just cranky and ornery.
So there was a definite sea change in her attitude/behavior. She was no longer a baby, she knew it and our relationship changed. Some time around July, she calmed down a little bit, and when we started hunting again in September, those endearing baby things just didn’t happen anymore. She was also much more serious in her hunting than she had been previously. It’s hard to explain, but it was just real clear she wasn’t a baby anymore.
In the years following, that same telltale look happens about the same time each year to slightly varying degrees and by mid-summer, she’s back to her normal self again.
I watched several other first-year birds go through this change, but when I mentioned what I thought it was to a couple of more experienced falconers and I was basically laughed at as if I’d grown several more heads. So I didn’t say anything else for a while.
Fast forward to the Harrisburg, PA peregrine nest, and I saw the female exhibiting similar behavior and then the Cornell female, Big Red. I’m convinced that’s what it is, but other folks might believe I’m crazy. Granted, they might have a point there, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong on this point 😉
Jack, my 16-year-old male Harris’ hawk (and there’s that pesky MINE thing again), remains pretty much the same throughout this time, although he gets grumpy on days when he’s dropping big flight feathers. However, Skye, a female Kestrel, showed the exact same behavior change as Mariah, although Mariah started earlier this year.
So, to answer your question, I think it’s necessary to be familiar with an individual bird’s behavior and then watch for behavior changes. And of course, it varies in intensity among individuals and even with one individual from year to year. Some years with this bird, it’s subtle, but some years like this one, there’s NO subtlety to it. Mariah (redtail) is 22 this year. I have no idea about Skye’s age other than she’s an adult.
Sorry for any typos. I’m rushed this morning.
I enjoy all of your photos, Ron, but I’ve got to admit the back-brooding Grebes are right up there at the top- along with the Burrowing Owls, Short-eared Owls, Black-billed Magpies, Belted Kingfishers, Northern Flickers…well, you get the point! Thanks for a wonderful way to start my day!
Those chicks are hard to resist, Diane – especially when they’re quite young like this. Later in the summer when they’re quite large they become so obnoxiously loud as they’re constantly begging for food that if I were one of their parents I think I’d consider flying the coop…
Wonderful shots Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
I swear Ron, you have to be one of the luckiest nature photographer to look through
a telephoto lens. How you find all the subjects you do, and how you get them to
perform is a bit of a mystery, but what ever you are doing, and how ever you manage
to accomplish it, keep doing it, because we all admire your results.. ;-)))
Roger, I have plenty of luck but it comes in both varieties, good and atrocious. So it’s been my practice to spend LOTS of time in the field to take advantage of the good and I try to ignore the bad. Must admit though, the latter is difficult to do. Thanks very much.