Temperatures are finally warming a bit here in northern Utah but the world is outside is still monotonously white. Yesterday morning I measured 22 1/2″ of snow on the north end of Antelope Island, indicating that our bleak and largely featureless landscape will remain the same for the foreseeable future.
So this morning I needed a break and decided to post an image (taken this past June at Bear River MBR) that would remind me that spring is somewhere out there on the distant horizon.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
Western Grebes are devoted parents to their incessantly hungry and noisy chicks. The male and female take turns with their parental duties – one will back brood the youngsters while the other delivers fish and then they alternate responsibilities. Here the female (smaller than the male, with a shorter, thinner bill – thus sexual dimorphism) has caught a small fish and is delivering it to the male. Usually the parent receiving the fish will give it to the chick, as happened here.
As I’m sure is obvious, I’m very much looking forward to watching and photographing springtime bird activities once again. It’s going to be a very long 2-3 months…
Ron
Great behaviour shot! Finally got some shots of the western grebe with my camera while in San Francisco a couple weeks ago. A little too early for the youngins’ though.
Such a sweet photo Ron.I especially enjoy seeing the little one on dad’s back observing,perfect.
I always leave thebest ’till last. So I’m just now getting around to savoring this wonderful, delightful grebe photo and commentary! What a wonderful way to start
to start the day! This Ron!!
Ron, I don’t know what to say. Just a beautiful photograph in so many ways. I wish that I had the opportunity here to see such interaction. I only see the individual birds.
Thanks, Bob. You’d love seeing and photographing these behaviors around here in the spring.
I am excited for the thaw as well Ron. Your photo makes me anxious, even more so that I have always wanted my own kayak to venture through the wetlands with my camera and capture intimate behaviors such as these. What a neat photo.
Thanks, Bryce. It was fun to finally meet you in the field a couple of days ago.
Ron – Congratulations as you were mentioned in this mornings Blog for 10,000 Birds. “And as Ron Dudley shows, it goes beyond live mice, as he documented a whole chicken being left out by someone to attract raptors. At least a chicken would last awhile as a feeder.” The particular article was on baiting for owls. I find this a little problematic and to me a breach of true birding ethics. I guess it is to each his own. We had a Brambling visit us here in the Denver area for a few days in November/December. That was fine and dandy – but come to find out that some birder brought a bag of feed and left it for birders to use to draw the bird in. Needless to say I did not venture forth to get a look at the rare bird.
Yes, I’d seen that blog, Mark but thanks for pointing it out.
Ron: You are so fortunate. You live in a continent with so much biodiversity, I on the other hand, live in an island, where biodiversity is somewhat limited due to its size. This is so gorgeous. Boy, do I envy you.
I guess I never thought of it that way, Maria but I’m sure you’re right. Thank you.
Wow. What a treat to see this interaction. Thank you for my little Friday piece of delight. =) Lovely birds (used to see them often when I was a coastal girl), and those eyes are amazing!
Biobabbler, yes it was a treat to see this behavior. I had my best summer with this species last year.