Western Grebes exhibit two incredibly complex courtship behaviors, the Rushing Ceremony and the Weed Ceremony. I believe the behavior I photographed yesterday morning to be a preliminary to the Weed Ceremony.
The Weed Ceremony has four distinct stages. Two of those stages are called Weed Diving and Weed Dancing where both birds of a mated pair dive and then bring “weeds” to the surface with their bodies held in an erect posture and then perform a complex choreography with the weeds before discarding them.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, canvas added for composition, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I photographed this bird of an obviously mated pair immediately after it surfaced with its beak full of aquatic vegetation. Its mate was just out of frame though it didn’t have any weeds. This bird faced its mate with the weeds in its bill as if it was encouraging the other bird to join in the behavior. My pickup on the refuge loop road was very close to both grebes and I suspect that my presence may have prevented the other bird from participating in the behavior, which I regret.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
It all happened so quickly that I didn’t even have time to adjust camera settings before firing off a few shots and then the bird dropped the vegetation and the behavior was over. For a variety of reasons I’m fairly confident that what I observed wasn’t simply part of the nest-building process. In this image the black, triangular crest is raised, spread laterally and in obvious display (compare the head shape to that in the previous photo – it’s the same bird) and I like those bulging, neon-red eyes.
I’ve photographed the elusive Rushing Ceremony of the Western Grebe previously but this was my first opportunity with the Weed Ceremony. I hope to observe and photograph the entire behavior sometime in the future. I’d love to have that opportunity this spring.
Ron
I’ve seen this behaviour in Great Crested Grebes here in England. It happens with an inexperienced pair who haven’t practised the dance thoroughly — the basic moves are hard wired, which is why two separate and remote species both do it, but the details have to be filled in. They go through the normal preliminaries to the dance, head shaking and roll preening, then both back off and dive, but only one of them comes up with a beakful of weed. They usually get properly synchronised within a couple of weeks and then do the dance properly.
Your possible explanation seems logical to me, Ralph. Perhaps the something similar explains what I documented with the species here:
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2015/04/27/western-grebe-behavior-an-unusual-variation-on-a-theme/
What wonderful shots and interesting information Ron!
Charlotte
As I said on Mia’s blog. Proof positive that ‘red-eye’ isn’t a photographic blunder. What an amazing looking bird. Fingers and toes crossed that you (and we) do get the whole sequence…
I’d love to get the whole sequence one day, EC. Thanks.
Grebes!
Yep!
I love the full-on shot. Those eyes are mesmerizing.
Their eyes are something, aren’t they, Arwen?
Ron – I have a dumb question for our retired teacher. Do we know why grebes have red eyes? I told you it was a dumb question!! LOL!! I LOVE the uniqueness of this handsome bird & SO glad to have you share your photos & info on their behaviors.
Not a dumb question at all, Jo Ann. I don’t know the answer for sure but I’ve heard of a theory that it has something to do with allowing them to see better underwater (I think the physics of it involves light wave lengths and how light penetrates murky water). Something similar to the way amber foglights work when it’s foggy. Wouldn’t swear to this though…
I find these birds elegant and doofy at the same time….even their ceremonies–the rushing, where they look like they have their heads on upside down to the weed ceremony with their “Jersey Boys hair do’s”….. The bright, red eyes only add to the bizarre effect…
You’ve got them pegged, Patty. I react the same way to their antics but they’re absolutely fascinating to watch when you catch them at the right time.
Ron, again thanks for the correlation of the pictures and behavior. I might have missed the crest display but could not have overlooked the intense look. Great shots and better information. Thanks.
I’m glad you found both the photos and the behavior explanation interesting, Diana. Thank you.
Excellent shots! Thanks for sharing!
Have you taken shots of Western Grebe nests?
Will you be following this pair?
Dick, I have a few images of their nests (I think) taken in previous years, but not many. It’s likely that I won’t be able to follow a particular pair (there’s usually lots of grebes around) unless their nest is easily seen from the road and that doesn’t happen all that often. Thank you.