Western Grebes – Aggressive Speed Demons

I’ve spent a lot of time over the years watching and photographing the behaviors of Western Grebes and I’ve been impressed by both their aggressive tendencies toward other birds and by their incredible acceleration and speed in “running” across the water at those same birds.  In my experience that aggression is most often directed toward other grebes in defense of mates, chicks or feeding areas but they are also aggressive toward a variety of other species and are suspected of stabbing them with their bill from under water.  BNA reports Mallards and Red-necked Grebes found dead from stab wounds to the abdomen that were probably administered by Western Grebes.

I’ve found photographing them as they dash across the water to be very challenging because of their speed and the unpredictable nature of the behavior – it usually comes with little or no warning and direction is difficult to anticipate.

 

 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4

Though these birds appear slim while sitting on the water, in reality they are fairly chunky and at the end of one of these “runs” their wide body throws up quite a wide wake as they begin to slow down and settle back into the water – much like a speedboat after the engine has been cut.

 

 

1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 This grebe is early in the acceleration stage with its “bow” still raised high.

 

 

 1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 And then another wake as it begins to settle into the water.

 

 

 1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

Here you see those amazing feet in action, providing the thrust for the explosive bursts of speed.  The legs are attached to the body at the rear which reduces the drag they would have if they were in a more “normal” position beneath the bird.

 

 

 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

This is a full-frame image, not cropped so you can see the full effect of the spray behind the bird caused by the churning feet as it launches itself toward an opponent.

Though there are reports of these grebes physically attacking other grebes by stabbing them and fighting face to face by grasping the opponent’s neck and jabbing with open bill I have never seen it.  Each time I have observed this aggression the (apparently) less dominant bird has always retreated.

 

 

 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

A few days ago I photographed this peaceful family scene as the parent brooded three chicks on its back.  The chicks are sleepy and can barely keep their eyes open.   But the raised crest on the parent and it’s intense gaze combined with erect posture indicates that it sees another grebe getting too close to the youngsters and a few seconds later…

 

 

 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

it aggressively rushes at the other grebe.  Two things are going on here – the weight of the three chicks has apparently reduced the ability of the parent to accelerate quickly (or perhaps it was a bluff charge in deference to the vulnerable position of the chicks) as evidenced by the less intense water spray behind the bird.  But what acceleration there was is dislodging one of the chicks…

 

 

 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

and dumped it in the drink…

 

 

 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

and then engulfed it with the backwash wave from the slowing parent (again, just like a motorboat with the engine quickly cut).

Such an interesting species.  They’re truly a joy to observe and photograph.

Ron