Red-necked grebes over the year blog

Red-necked grebes are very common.  I see them from early spring well into fall.  I have photographed them in Alberta, BC, and Alaska..  They are common in Western Canada but are also found back east.  They spend their winters on the ocean in northern latitudes; you won't find them flying south for the winter.

I have dozens of photos of red-necked grebes I have taken over the years.  In the early spring, you can find them building a nest out of reeds and rotting debris.  They care for their young into summer.  The chicks have a comical striped appearance that gradually fades into fall.  In winter, they moult into a drab gray appearance and bide their time until the return of spring.  They exhibit something called philopatry.

Philopatry is when an organism either stays where it was born or returns to it year after year.  Red-necked grebes exhibit this behaviour, as well as being monogamous for their entire lives.  The pair may separate during the winter but return to the same breeding area where they rendezvous to raise a new family.

I love their calls.  When kayaking, I often hear them sounding out; it always fills me with a certain degree of solace.  If you want to hear them, click here.

The above photos were taken over a 16 year period.  

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com