Western Grebe chicks are both adorable and annoying, probably for their parents and I’m sure for me.
Like many very young birds they’re cute as hell but if you were to ask me what bird gets on my nerves the most because of their persistent (actually never-ending), loud and grating begging calls for their parents to feed them it would be grebes, both Western and Clark’s – especially when they’re a little older than this. In fact I can think of no other young birds that annoy me at all. I’ve actually been known to eventually leave the area and look for other birds because of it and it really takes something aggravating to drive me away from photogenic birds (biting gnats can do it too). I love grebe chicks but…
These photos were taken on the morning of August 23, 2015 at Bear River MBR. I’m always surprised when I see grebe chicks that late in the summer but it seems to happen every year.
1/2500, f/8. ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
It may not look like it but there’s actually a family of 4 grebes here – an adult, one chick in the water and two more on the back of the parent. If you look carefully you can see the top of the back of the second chick behind the first and there’s a sliver of its head visible between the head of the first chick and the neck of the parent.
The chick in the water had been trying desperately to catch a ride on the adult but there was simply no room up there and neither of the youngsters up top was willing to give up its comfortable spot.
1/2000, f/8. ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Ten minutes later one of the chicks on the parent’s back had abandoned ship to go swimming and the third youngster (or maybe it was the one that had left, can’t remember) tried to climb on board. These are fat little guys and it isn’t easy getting up there so they usually have to struggle to get it done (sometimes the adult will stick one of its legs backward so the chick can use it as a “ladder”). Here that chick is using its lobed feet to push itself forward under the wing of the adult but the parent is swimming forward too so it’s easier said than done. The disturbed water is from the desperate paddling of the chick and not the adult.
Partially because the adult is looking away from the viewer this is no more than a documentary or novelty shot but it does amuse me.
Ron
Great photos.
Wonderful shots, Ron! This is one of those times that I appreciate not having a sound link. 😉 I enjoy watching the Grebes and their chicks (in silence). Looking forward to this season’s group.
Hope you are having a fabulous Fathers’ Day and wish the same for the rest of your blog community.
Marty, I looked for a sound clip of begging chicks but all I could find was calls of the adults. Thank you.
No complaints here — got my fill of “crying kids” when DH and I went out to lunch today. (I would NOT have made a good parent…) 😉
One of the reasons (there are others) that I very rarely eat out…
Yet another fascinating series to dispell early morning computer woes.
Love them.
There are a number of young birds here which go on and on and on. And on.
Often convincing me I would have been a woeful parent.
And Patty is of course right about your writing.
Thanks, EC. I’ll bet you’d have been a good parent. We do what we have to do in that situation.
What a wonderful picture of the baby on the mother’s back! Thank you!
I’m glad you like it, Adele.
I am feeling sad I will miss the baby grebes this year, noise included, unless they have another late brood in August. I thought about going to BRMBR this am but decided I should stay home and get things done around the house before I leave.
Thanks for sharing one of my favorite.
Yes, for me BRMBR has been a lonely place for much of the past two years.
I wish they would openly post more of their management choices. I am distressed by the proposed opening of more ponds for hunting. I feel the birds need a safe resting haven. Hunters rule in Utah. Many division people who call the “shots” are avid hunters.
I feel the same way you do, April…
Listen, I’ll give you a piggyback ride when I’m done with your sister 😁❗️
Love the reflections in the second shot.
Happy Fathers Day ❤️
Thanks, Diana. I was far enough away from the birds for that shot that I had plenty of room to work with the reflections. In many of the others I didn’t.
It always makes me smile to see shots of grebe chicks hitching a ride..it is such a cute scene, one that I’ll probably only see, thanks to you, in your photos. Your photos aside, you are a champion “grabber” writer…Your posting titles grab my curiosity everytime!!! You say you’re not a writer, that it’s hard for you, but it sure doesn’t look thay way..ever! I think the reality is that you area very good, natural writer, but a real nit picker about choosing your words…much like your photos…HAPPY FATHERS’ DAY…
Thanks for the kind words about my writing, Patty. They mean a lot to me.
Those chicks are cute, no doubt about it. That’s the one thing that saves most youngsters of most species, because so many of them have habits/behaviors that annoy their parents. I’m reminded of what a neighbor of long ago said: children (of the human variety) are cute every other year, because otherwise they would never survive.
Interesting observation by your neighbor, Susan. There’s at least some truth in that.
Sweet photos! I would love an opportunity someday to see these cute youngsters ride on the backs of their parents, to photograph them and to get annoyed by them 🙂
Joanne, I complain about their noise but I’d sure miss them if they weren’t around every summer.
Well, you may find them annoying, however I don’t care how annoying they are, I would love to have the opportunity to photograph them. What would be even better however is to be able to watch and attempt to photograph the two adults doing their infamous mating behavior race. Fun post Ron and happy fathers day!
Thanks, Frank I’ve photographed that behavior (rushing) a couple of times. Pretty exciting!
That second shot made me laugh out loud even before I read your caption ! Thanks for a good start to the day ……..
It does the same to me. Thanks, Kris.
SO cute! 🙂 Beautiful shots, Ron. The first photo is precious. Have never heard these – Magpie’s are the ones that REALLY get on my nerves! 🙁 Fortunately, the ones building the nest near the bedroom windows changed their mind and moved further away tho we will still have to listen to them…..
Thanks, Judy. Yeah, I forgot about magpie youngsters. Usually they don’t bother me but one year when they nested in a tree next to my house they drove me slightly bonkers.
Try having a couple of dozen orphaned magpies all screaming to be fed every hour in a rehab. They can be glutinous and scream until they have bulging crops. They even try to scream while your are stuffing food with a syringe down their throat. A sound that is highly annoying yet satisfying at the same time.
That puts my complaining in perspective, April.
Beautiful photos!I hope you have a wonderful day today!
Thank you, Jerilyn.
Beautiful shots Ron. Would have been a great shot for Father’s Day if the dad had been there helping the chicks climb up on mom. Happy Father’s Day to all.
Everett Sanborn
Prescott Arizona
Everett, Actually a Father’s Day connection is something I thought about doing since both sexes back brood the chicks but based on the shape of the bill it’s my guess that this is the female. They’re quite difficult to tell apart though.
Wonderful series Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
‘When you grow up I hope you have a child that does the exactly what you do!’ 🙂
Cute photos…once again. I don’t recall seeing these but our Common Loons have their chicks ride along like this and it is a heartwarming site.
Ha, I heard words similar to those from my own mother. I’m sure many of us have. Thanks, Kathy.