Grebes
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A juvenile Clark's grebe follows it parent learning to feed in the process. The still waters and evening light highlight the pair and their reflections.
An adult Clark's grebe shakes water off its feathers as part of evening preening in Utah's Great Salt Lake. Like many shorebirds, grebes maintain a healthy distance between themselves and humans. So, it is a rewarding experience to get them to relax in our presence as this grebe did during my time there.
Western Grebe Shaking off Water
A western grebe shakes off water as part of its morning routine. Grebes are diving birds and spend much of their time underwater looking for fish or crustaceans. Their feathers are waterproof and keeping them in good health is critical to their survival. Here the grebe's feathers had got wet as it preened and the shake was part of its effort to remove the water.
A pair of western grebes feed at Utah's Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I was able to observe and photograph this pair at close range for a while. I liked the synchronous head angles as well as the contrasting poses of the male and female.
Western Grebe Parent and Juvenile
A western grebe feeds its juvenile a minnow at the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Juveniles stay with their parents till late in the summer and often rely on the parent grebes for food as they are still learning to fish for themselves.
An western grebe chases after rivals in the course of courting. This was part of a larger group that had gathered in the morning to feed and socialize. Grebes tend to move away from humans and I was lucky to find a group that were comfortable around me.
