Birdwalk Newsletter 12.11.2016

Walk conducted by

Perry Nugent

Newsletter Written by

Jayne Matney

“The Earth laughs in

flowers.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo by Joe McGill Photo by Marina Coppedge

The Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

The Pied-billed Grebe is the “sole extant member of

the genus Podilymbus”, lives throughout the

Americas, and has many nicknames: American

Dabchick, Dabchick, Carolina Grebe, Devil-diver,

Dive Dapper, Dipper, Hell-diver, Pied-billed

Dabchick, Thick-billed Grebe, and my favorite that

leaves me a bit confused…Water Witch, according

to a Wikipedia article. Its conservation status is

considered “Least Concern”. Although found as

common birds of most of North America, these

birds are declining in the New England area due to habitat loss.

Because of their small, stout bodies, block-like heads, and short, thick bills, people tend to think

of them as “cute”. What they aren’t: good fliers. They are rarely seen in flight, and migration

usually happens during the night. They are often thought of as reclusive, shy and cautious when

it comes to human interaction. They elude as much as possible. What they are: great divers!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology simply explains, the grebe is “part bird, part submarine”. They are

often seen diving for food (which happens to be mostly comprised of crustaceans, insects, fish,

amphibians, and other invertebrates) and diving for safety. Once a predator, such as a hawk, is

detected they will dive in one place and come up in another. Grebe are able to deflate and

inflate air between their feathers in order to control buoyancy in the water. They have been

observed “crash diving” which is very dramatic, or simply sinking down into the water slowly

out of view! They can stay submerged and swim just below the surface with only eyes and

nostrils showing. Now that IS cute! The males also will use this “under the radar” swimming

technique to impress the female- by racing forward toward her causing ripples on the surface of

the water. They conduct a dance with the females as well. Other males of this species and other

water birds that happen to be around

may find themselves being jerked

under water from beneath as a way

of the male grebe establishing

territory.

During breeding season, the color of

the bill changes. The otherwise

yellowish-brown bill becomes “pied”

or whitish with a black band. There is

no sexual dimorphism. Therefore, the

males and females look the same to

us. When courting, besides the odd

“swimming under the surface of the

water”, they call and begin duets together. Territorial behavior, beside the underwater attacks,

consists of males facing each other, turning their heads upward and then turning away from

each other abruptly and calling. Then they turn back around to face each other again as if to see

if the other has gone yet.

Unlike the Ring-necked Duck from last week, Grebes need a long runway to take off out of the

water when they actually DO fly. The grebes make their homes in quiet, open freshwater

ecosystems such as lakes, ponds, and swamps. They favor areas that have thick vegetation or

floating grasses such as cattails. Both the males and females select the sight of the nest

together. So that their nests can float and be close to cover, their nests are built of small sticks,

pondweeds, water lilies, and other vegetation which can float! They start to build these nests 3

to 5 days before eggs arrive, and can take as little as only one day to be nest worthy. The eggs

are pale blue to whitish, elliptical shaped and are incubated by both parents. The young leave

this nest within one day! Within four weeks, the babes will start to swim, however they prefer

to ride on one of the parent’s back.

Fun Facts about Grebe (that you may not already know):

The longest living Pied-billed Grebe on record was at least 4 years and 7 months old.

Grebe eat their own feathers and feed their young feathers too! The explanation for this

is that they eat so many crustaceans with hard parts, it prevents these parts from

reaching their intestines. Instead, it blocks them and prevents them from passing so that

eventually the grebe can regurgitate them back up in a mass. This makes me think of our

precious owls and their owl pellets.

When courtship occurs with grebe their dance includes somewhat of a “pirouette”.

Pied-billed Grebe do not have the standard white markings under the wing like other

grebe. Their white marking is under the tail!

The Pied-billed Grebe has lobed feet rather than webbed feet, similar to the American

Coots we have in our ponds and swamps.

A Pied-billed Grebe has an interesting call similar to the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The

vocalizations are described as being a “loud whooping” sound: “kuk-kuk-cow-cow-cow-

cowp-cowp”.

In order to protect the eggs, Grebe will cover their nests to camouflage it if they are

leaving it alone for a while.

Remember the fact that the babies like to ride on the parents back? Well, they will also

sleep there and sometimes the parents will dive with the babies still on their backs!

Half of their stomachs are filled up with feathers!

* Grebe Photos by Perry Nugent

* Most of this information was taken from articles by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Wikipedia*

Blue-winged Teal Photo by Robin and Dana Hogan

Beside the Pied-billed Grebe, the many American Coot, and plenty of Common

Moorhen, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens can boast the fact that we are now

housing seven different types of Duck! We now have Wood Duck, American

Widgeon, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead,

and Gadwall. The Gadwall were flocking in great numbers in the Ravenswood

Pond. Also seen at Ravenswood were 4 Great Blue Heron being a part of the

scenery and the Tree Swallow were flyovers. When the group of 5 started out

that morning, there were approximately 50 American Robin near the office (just

across from the parking lot) going after the berries there. Pileated Woodpecker

were seen near the parking lot as well. Down the exit road near the parking area

were American Goldfinch, Pine Warbler, and Red-shouldered Hawk. Perry notes

that the Pine Warblers are in their full breeding plumage and are starting to sing

now. In addition to the Pine Warbler- the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm

Warbler, and Black-and-white Warbler made their appearances. Heading down

to the Audubon Swamp, 50 Red-winged Blackbird (mostly females) reigned in

the trees. Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture were flyovers all over the property.

Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern

Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American and Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadee,

Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Northern

Mockingbird, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal

made the list again this week. One Golden-crowned Kinglet, and three Ruby-

crowned Kinglet also made the list. Gulls were seen flying by. Last but certainly

not least, two adult Bald Eagles made a bit of a show this week with courtship

behaviors, while 1 first year and 1 second year eagle were creating more action

at the large rice field by scattering the coots, moorhen, and ducks. A Cooper’s

Hawk was a flyover at the property near the end of the walk.

Bufflehead are showing up! This year, only one so far. 2013 Photo by Perry Nugent