Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Natures Submarine

The pied-billed grebe is the second smallest grebe found in North America. Although grebes look a lot like ducks they do not have webbed feet like ducks do. Instead they have lobed toes with webbing connecting the toes. Because of this grebes are classified under the order Podicipediformes.
Least grebes spend the majority of their life in the water. They nest on floating rafts of vegetation. The chicks leave the nest for the water almost immediately after hatching, although in their first week they spend most of their time riding on the back of their parents. If danger approaches the grebe will sink under the water. This always reminds me of the way that a submarine dives. During the winter the pied-billed grebe migrates at night to wetlands in the southern portions of North America.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

nice to know.

Maude Lynn said...

I didn't know about the toes!

Jim said...

good captures
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Leora said...

I'm admiring the lily pads ... maybe the grebe is, too.

lina@happy family said...

Thanks for the info. Lovely shots :)

Irene said...

Great shots ... wish you a great Wednesday!

Irene

2sweetnsaxy said...

Great shots!

Shirley @ The Gardening Life said...

I didn't know they nested directly on floating plants on the water! Not many birds/ducks do that!