I think I know what’s going on here but I don’t know exactly how it’s done.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this adult Clark’s Grebe with two chicks at Bear River MBR a week ago. By the time the youngsters get this large there’s not enough room on the taxi for more than one chick at a time so one of them sometimes punts by holding on to the rear end of the parent and hitching a ride by being pulled through the water by the adult. I’ve seen the behavior several times and photographed it more than once but I’ve only seen it with larger chicks. When they’re small at least three of them can fit on the back of the parent at the same time so at that age they don’t need to do it.
But I don’t know how the chicks hold on because their heads are always covered by feathers of the adult. My suspicion is that they grasp feathers of the adult in their bill but there’s another possibility. The dark, almost black mass you see under the wing is the right foot of the adult – grebes often fold their legs forward and place their lower legs and feet under their wings for warmth but here we can actually see that foot. Perhaps the chick has wedged part of its head between the leg and body of the adult in order to hold on. Or it’s even possible that it’s holding on to the leg of the adult with its bill instead of feathers. I just don’t know – it all depends on where the head actually is.
But however chicks hold on in this situation I haven’t been able to find a description of the behavior in the literature, despite the fact that other similar behaviors are described in some detail.
It’s a little thing but little things often make me curious. That’s part of the fun of bird behaviors for me – there’s always small mysteries yet to be solved.
Ron
PS – there’s something else interesting going on here. The chick on the back of the parent held this exact posture for more than 30 seconds. It was obviously looking into the water at or for something. Perhaps it was looking at its own reflection, even in this rough water. Or maybe it was just curious about what it might see in the depths. Or I suppose it’s even possible that at this age it had learned that food comes out of that wet stuff down there and it was hungry. Another little mystery…
Hi Ron,
I’m inclined to believe Bobbi may have the right idea. I believe the foot we see belongs to the chick on the parent’s back. My visit in June was the first time I had ever seen Clark’s Grebes and I was intrigued by them sticking their legs out orthogonally from their body and took lots of photos (I since learned they were foot-shipping as you said). I also took many photos of the babies climbing aboard the parent. In my photos the babies legs are solid black, while the adults have a yellowish tinge. I believe we may even see a little bit of that yellow at the rear of the adult. I’m also thinking the size of the foot might point to it belonging to a chick.
You could very well be right, John and Bobbi. I went back and looked at other images of these birds and I just can’t tell for sure.
The avian version of a head lock?
Love it. And hooray for curiosity. And for answers which prevent this cat from dying more than five or six times a day.
Thank you, EC.
I think it is one chick whose head and neck is under the mother’s right wing and the head pokes out to look in the water—I think it is the chicks right foot that is poking out under the mom’s right wing and the chick’s rear end trailing behind. (not the mom’s foot) A very interesting puzzle—thanks for sharing.
It’s hard to know for sure, isn’t it, Bobbi.
Ron, this is interesting: “Of course just about everyone knows that the chicks ride on the mother’s back, but how they climb up there is also unusual. The mother extends her foot as a platform for the chick to climb up on and then on to her back. I at first didn’t believe that until one day I had the opportunity to observe a pair of chicks climb up on their mother’s back several times over a period of about 30 minutes. Every time they used her foot as a platform.” http://www.record-bee.com/sports/20130716/the-outdoorsman-western-grebe-chicks-in-short-supply
BNA describes the same behavior. I’ve been watching for it for years but strangely I’ve never seen it.
Very interesting behavior. It looks to me like the chick in tow might have its head just jammed between the leg and body of the adult. Whatever it is, it looks mighty uncomfortable. One thing I think is great about this shot is that it allows the imagination to see all sorts of strange things.
Susan, at first I thought this chick was going to try to climb on board next to its sibling but it never even tried.
Personally, I love it that one answered question opens up another dozen UNanswered questions that make me just go WOW!! LOL!
Just love your blog. You ROCK! 🙂
Exactly, Laura – birds are often never-ending mysteries…
Actually that’s a single, long, curvy- necked chick. The neck is probably about 16″ long….because of the length of the neck, it’s difficult for the chick ot hold its head up….the back brooding of these birds is one of my fsvorite, cutest behaviors…never get tired of seeing them.
Patty, I like the way your eyes work… 😀
I do too, Susan.
Hmmmm! 🙂 Think it would be getting a mouth full of water where it’s at! Great shots regardless. L(
Judy, it was a windy morning and the waves pretty much engulfed its head every few seconds. But it didn’t care and maintained this head position throughout.
That is interesting Ron. Nice shot. I had to smile when I saw the chick on her back. It almost looks board.
I think it’s pretty interested in something, Jean. Don’t know what though…
Great shot and interesting observations.
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.