Pardon my submarine reference in the title but I’m betting many of my readers are old enough to remember those old WWII movies.
I seldom see Pied-billed Grebes use this unique diving method but it always amuses me when I do. I’ve reported on this behavior before but those were different photos and this is a different grebe.
I like to challenge my photography skills and this is one of my favorite ways of doing it.
After this many years of observing birds carefully I seldom see behaviors that are new to me in common species. But 12 days ago I did.
I’ve photographed this feeding behavior before but those photos have never been this clear and detailed.
I knew Pied-billed Grebes were thieves but until yesterday I had no idea how incredibly sneaky their thievery can be. They’re notorious and highly skilled kleptoparasites (food-stealers) but this particular bird has refined the art of theft to the point of mastery and beyond.
Crayfish seem to be the preferred meal of Pied-billed Grebes at a local pond near my home.
I know of no bird that is more inclined to steal food from other members of its own species than Pied-billed Grebes.
I almost didn’t go shooting yesterday because birds have been slow but one of my mantras is “you never know unless you go”, so go I went. I’m very glad I did.
When temperatures get this cold and nearly all fresh water freezes up some bird species are at a distinct disadvantage. Pied-billed Grebes are among them.
These grebes are typically pretty lethargic this time of year but on this morning things went a little nuts for a few minutes.
