A Grebe Experience

When you see Western Grebes floating serenely in the bays and inlets near us, it’s easy to think, “wow, what a regal and peaceful looking bird.  So beautiful...”   And they are, most of the time.   When captive and in a strange place, not so much!

Western Grebes are stately  black and white water birds that winter along our coast and in protected bays.  You may have seen a photo of their mating dance, where two grebes ‘run’ across the water, side by side.   Looks impossible but they do it.

A very bad winter storm at sea a few years ago brought a bumper crop of Western Grebes to the Wildlife Center.  For some reason, these particular birds were heavily impacted.   When they washed onto our shores, they were wet to the bone, hypothermic, weak and hungry.  And really challenging to capture. 

 Western Grebes have  long, snake-like necks, a small head and a thin, very sharp beak.   In order to protect themselves, they strike out with this beak at whatever – read whoever – is  perceived as a threat.  They are quick and accurate too.   Add to this  that the usually sleek black feathers on the top of their heads stand straight up when they’re antagonized, that their eyes are fiery red and that they can screech like banshees.  Not a bird for a novice bird rehabber to handle!   They’re just trying to protect themselves, and it’s a pretty effective effort.

This storm brought us probably over seventy Western Grebes within a 2-3 day period.  They were everywhere at the Center: in boxes, in wire pens, in big dog crates, anywhere they would fit.   Luckily they’re pretty sociable birds, so more than one could go into a container.  But looking down into a pen full of Grebes was like looking at a bunch of screeching cobras.   You just had to pick one out visually and gently but firmly hold it by the neck near the head – just to immobilize that bill.   Then get your other hand around the bird and lift quickly, keeping it’s rear away from you, as a big squirt was usually the next thing that happened.

We washed, dried and fed nothing but Grebes for days on end.  We waterproofed till we ran out of dish soap.  Hairdryers running on wet birds blended with the unearthly screeching- ear plugs were a must. 

Keeping that much fish thawed was a challenge too.  The Center has freezers full of frozen fish of all kinds, since every sea bird likes a different kind of fish.  And,  some like it diced up, some cut in half, some whole.   This is a sophisticated bird restaurant.   So boxes of the right fish were thawed, cut and placed in communal feeding pans.   Once the Grebes were healthy they made short work of the fish on offer.   A daily swim was in order for each bird, so they were carried  one by one by gloved volunteers to the bathing area and placed with other Grebes for a nice bath.   More screeching, but happier now:  water is their element.

Once the birds were healthy and waterproof,  on a calm day off they would go for release in  the Bay.  Volunteers love this part.  Sassy birds dash for freedom, fluff, dive and resurface, then do it all again.  Pure joy and the same for us, as we helped this happen.