Pied Billed Grebe

Pied-Billed Grebe

by Erika Lasater

The pied bill grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is one of several grebe species that live in North America, ranging from Canada to northern South America. It is a small brown bird with white rump feathers and a black chin patch. Its name comes from a black stripe on its short, yellow bill. The black stripe is present only during summer breeding months and is yellow the rest of the year. At 12 - 15 inches, it is one of the smaller grebes in North America.

Although the pied bill grebe's habitat is mainly fresh water, it may be found in salt water during migration or during the winter. It feeds most commonly in ponds, marshes, and bays on fish, insects, vegetation, and other aquatic life. As is common with other grebe species, the pied bill grebe ingests a number of its own feathers.

It is a diving bird and spends its entire life on the water. Its legs, positioned at the back of its small body, are not well suited for walking or being on land. To take off, the grebe must run across the surface of the water. The pied bill grebe is a poor flyer, and flights are usually limited. Migration takes place mostly at night and occurs from March to April and from August to November.

A pied bill grebe lays four to seven eggs on a floating nest built among reeds. The eggs are green blue when first laid and change to cream or dark brown as they age. Incubation is 23 days and the young are independent after about three weeks.

Grebes and Loons Need Water to Take Off

by Jeff Picton and Mollie Mondoux

We all know that for a safe landing, airplanes must land on firm, smooth runways, or with special equipment, some planes can land on water. It's probably risky for an airplane designed for solid landings to land on water or for an amphibious plane to land on a firm, smooth runway.

Each Fall at the Chintimini Wildlife Center, we see the result of what happens when a bird with landing equipment designed for water landings tries to land on a smooth, firm surface. These cases involve migrating loons and grebes. These loons and grebes are brought into the Center after being found on the sides of roads. They are usually slightly stunned, with abrasions on their feet and often with worn wing tips.

The first time we saw these injured birds, we were puzzled; however, after reading the literature and talking with avian aficionados, a fascinating story unfolded. Many loons and grebes migrate at night, and this being the Pacific Northwest, they are often flying in the rain. When these water birds get tired of flying and need to take a break, they look for bodies of water on which to land. At night, from high above, a wet road looks a lot like an inviting river to these birds and when they come in for a landing, they meet with a nasty surprise. It seems that these birds usually figure out at the last second that what they thought was a river doesn't contain any water and are able to put on the brakes before making full impact with the road. Most of these cases that come into the Center suffer from only mild concussions and recover after a day of rest.

The interesting thing, however, is that even if the loon or grebe is not severely injured after landing, it is grounded until some Good Samaritan comes along and rescues it. These birds are not anatomically designed to take off from and land on solid ground. They are consummate water birds. Loons and grebes have evolved as incredible swimmers and divers and spend almost all of their lives in the water. They have flattened tarsi, legs that are positioned far back on their bodies, and the ability to rotate their feet 90 degrees to achieve a powerful sidestroke. These features, along with streamlined bodies, make these species incredible underwater swimmers, but also make it hard for them to maneuver on land. On land they can barely hold their bodies upright, and are incapable of standing. With the exception of the red-throated loon, these birds cannot take off from land, and in fact need a long running start to even take off from water.

So a loon or grebe found on the side of a wet road is unable to get back into the air without some help. When we admit such birds to the Center, we make sure they have no serious injuries and let them rest overnight. Abrasions on their feet and wing tips are a result of their thrashing around on the ground trying to get airborne. Once they have recuperated, we take them to a safe pond where there is enough room for them to take off and continue their trip south, usually none the worse for wear.

If you find a loon or grebe on the side of the road and want to help it, call the Chintimini Wildlife Center at 541-754-5324. Please remember to put your own safety first when around these birds. They have sharp beaks and are very fast with them. If you choose to help such a grounded bird, you can throw a towel or some other material over its head, place it into a ventilated cardboard box, keep it in a warm, safe place, and then contact us. At all times you should keep the bird's head covered and your face away from it. These birds are wild animals and do not understand that you are trying to help. To them you are a potential predator and fearing for their lives, they will attack as a last resort.