![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/western-grebe-1659b-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"western-grebe-1659b-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nThis apparent contentment\u00a0of parent and\u00a0offspring just struck me, though when I think about it I know\u00a0it’s just\u00a0a temporary\u00a0illusion. When these youngsters are hungry, which is most of the time, the racket they make and their sometimes\u00a0rambunctious behavior\u00a0are far from harmonious and peaceful.<\/p>\n
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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<\/em><\/p>\n But still, the scene looks tranquil enough and that’s the thought that first comes to mind when I see the image. The photo was taken\u00a0three years ago today as the adult swam past me at Bear River MBR with one of its chicks on its back. But I know\u00a0this apparently\u00a0peaceful mood is only temporary and the cacophonous, loud\u00a0and even irritating\u00a0calls of hungry chicks begging for food are likely to break out at any moment (there\u00a0were two more chicks nearby).<\/p>\n Occasionally these days I revisit older grebe photos like this one because it’s been two years since I’ve been able to watch such behavior at Bear River (or anywhere else for that matter). Largely because of construction at the refuge it’s been dry as a bone out there and nesting grebes are nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n On the (mostly) bright side we had a real gully washer in northern Utah\u00a0last night which brought enough rain in the\u00a0valleys to cause significant flooding. Maybe\u00a0the storms\u00a0will put some water in the ponds at Bear River and elsewhere,\u00a0though it will be far\u00a0too late for nesting birds.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n Notes: <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This apparent contentment of parent and offspring just struck me, though when I think about it I know it’s just a temporary illusion.<\/p>\n\n