My title may be slight hyperbole but not by much. I actually made that statement to Mia immediately after photographing this behavior.
Many grebe species have distinctive stretching styles. When Western and Clark’s Grebes stretch they typically lay their long necks and heads on the surface of the water (that style can be seen here, 4th image down) but Pied-billed Grebes do it very differently as you’re about to see.
I photographed this bird yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA. A darned coot swam in front of the bird at the very beginning of the stretch so please do your best to ignore it. The image techs for the first image apply to all nine images.
1/2500-1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I was able to get my lens on the grebe very soon after the stretch began. It raised its wings and began to put a weird kink in its neck.
The forward bend in the neck almost appeared double-jointed as it began to tilt its head upward.
The neck began to straighten and the bill to open.
Then the neck became almost straight and the bill pointed straight up.
The grebe then brought its wings forward as the head tilted even further backwards.
As the angle of the head became even more extreme the bird began a jaw stretch to go along with the body stretch. When I look at this image for a few moments it becomes an optical illusion for me with the head twisted 180 degrees so that I think I’m seeing the left eye rather than the right. Only the curve of the upper bill corrects that illusion (it may or may not work for you…).
The bird closed its eyes…
and then began to lower its head and wings as the jaw stretch continued.
A moment later the grebe returned to a typical resting posture.
Perhaps I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill – after all it’s only a stretch. But I’m interested in most any bird behavior and I thought this stretching style was quite interesting, even amusing.
Ron
Kidz!! Do not try this at home. These are professionals who know what they
re doing.
Good advice, Theresa 🙂
I have long been jealous of birds for their flying abilities. Now, from my perspective of ‘supple as a brick’ you have given me yet another reason to long to be a bird in my next life.
Fascinating series. Gorgeous bird. Snickering at the Upward Grebe comment.
Agreed, EC. And in addition to my envy of their flight prowess and their flexibility I wish I had their lightning-fast reflexes. If I did I’d sure get a lot more bird images that I like…
If I were a chiropractor, my fingers would be itching to rush in and ‘fix’ this neck. Happily, the grebe has it all wrapped up!
“If I were a chiropractor, my fingers would be itching to rush in and ‘fix’ this neck”
That brought a smile, Alison. Thanks for that.
Ron – Just a quick question. I know that you have had problems with the host for your blog in the past. I am thinking about starting a blog around the first of the new year. Do you have any suggestions on a host? I intend to use WordPress to build and maintain the blog.
Thanks
Mark, I’d strongly recommend Bluehost for hosting. And I’d avoid Network Solutions like the plague. I truly don’t know how Network Solutions stays in business…
Neat – once again it looks like it might be on it’s back! 🙂 Sure does have a flexible neck and, obviously, enjoyed the stretch as we all do! 🙂
Thanks, Judy. I love that you use the word “neat”. I use it all the time. I just can’t bring myself to use the word “cool” – another of my many idiosyncrasies…
Ron, you’re not alone in that. I’ve been using ‘neat’ since it was the in word. Have never liked ‘cool’
Glad to have you back and best wishes for your daughter.
This Gerbe is indeed practicing “Upward Grebe” – and bird yoga pose ;~)
Thanks very much, Alan.
It is indeed a fascinating stretch. In the 6th photo it looked to me as if the bird was on its back in the water, instead of just being all twisted up. It’s definitely a good illusion, even though paying attention to the bill or the wing feathers would immediately and easily prove that it’s an illusion. I’m glad you posted this series, because birds stretching is a concept that I just don’t think about. I love learning about bird behaviors.
“In the 6th photo it looked to me as if the bird was on its back in the water”
I see what you mean, Susan.
I’d say that not only do they have a lot of mobility in their legs, they also have it in their necks. Must be necessary for catching fish or some other needed action by these grebes.
You may be right about the reason for their flexibility, Pam. They don’t have the long neck of some other grebes so maybe their flexibility helps to make up for it…
Poor thing!!! It obviously woke uo with its head on upside down( someting I’ve noticed with Grebes before ) and had to really work at it to it get back on right…may have happened overdoing the “upward Grebe” position…you have to know what you’re doing with yoga or you can get yourself in trouble…just ask Nancy…..
You often have such a unique (and amusing) take on things, Patty. I call it “Patty-take” and I love it.
That is one happy bird from that stretch! 😀
It looks that way, doesn’t it, Arwen?
What a series, Ron!! You know it does remind me of when I’ve had a really crazy day and wake up the next morning, it seems to demand a much more extensive “morning stretch”!! Maybe it was the same for this little one?!! I love them all but I think #5 is my favorite – again remembering that when I get to the max on “my” stretch I close my eyes too!! Hmmm – makes me want to go back to bed and do another good stretch!! I love to see it when animals do things similar to us humans!!
Stretching feels so gooooooood, doesn’t it, Jo Ann?
“Upward Grebe” (new yoga pose)!
Works for me, Nancy…
Perhaps it’s less a jaw stretch than an opportunity to scratch the back of its head with its wings. Hence the closed eyes. Aahhh, satisfaction!
I close my eyes at such moments too, Tom… 🙂