{"id":3264,"date":"2015-04-23T14:26:22","date_gmt":"2015-04-23T18:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=3264"},"modified":"2021-01-14T21:01:26","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T02:01:26","slug":"pied-billed-grebe-a-e-crookes-park-toronto-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/pied-billed-grebe-a-e-crookes-park-toronto-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"A Pied Billed Grebe Swims Past at A.E. Crookes Park near Toronto, Ontario"},"content":{"rendered":"

I enjoy visiting the Red Necked Grebes<\/strong><\/a> when they nest at the marina in Bronte Harbour each spring. And I\u2019ve met Horned Grebes<\/strong><\/a> diving into the icy chill of Lake Ontario at Colonel Sam Smith Park when the ice is barely out of the bays. Less often, I\u2019ve seen a very small grebe there, too, always swimming rapidly away from me and if possible straight into the sunlight. Do these birds know how that affects a photo or do they just hope the sun will blind a predator\u2019s eyes? So I was pleased to see another Pied Billed Grebe recently offshore at a park in Mississauga who dallied long enough for me to snap a few quick photos.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Are Pied Billed Grebes the Smallest Ontario Grebe?<\/h2>\n

If you see a Pied Billed Grebe beside a Red Necked Grebe you\u2019ll notice a big difference in the size of the two birds before you notice the two-coloured bill on the smaller one. (The word \u201cPied\u201d means having two or more different colours, by the way.)<\/p>\n

How does it compare, though, to a Horned Grebe?<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThe bird above is a Horned Grebe.<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, according to the AllAboutBirds website, the Pied Billed<\/strong><\/a> has a body length of 30-38 cm (up to 15 inches) and the Horned<\/strong><\/a> has a very similar body length. So why do Pied Billeds seem so much smaller?<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nIt was amusing to watch the Grebe surface just as a Mallard swam up. I’m not sure who was more surprised.<\/em><\/p>\n

I think it may be their shape. They are chunky and have a ridiculously small feather where you\u2019d expect a tail. Maybe it\u2019s also because they tend to like calm or sluggish water where large puddle ducks like Mallards often live. In comparison to a Mallard, they are tiny-looking.<\/p>\n

Do Pied Billed Grebes Sink?<\/h2>\n

Like Loons, Pied Billed Grebes can voluntarily sink themselves. I was watching this one when it decided to impersonate a submarine.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThey can sink right before your eyes!<\/em><\/p>\n

According to the Cornell website<\/strong><\/a>, they trap water in their feathers to help control their buoyancy. They have even been known to use this skill when fishing for minnows and crustaceans like crayfish.<\/p>\n

The New Jersey Endangered and Threatened Species Field Guide page<\/strong><\/a> says they have \u201crelatively solid bones.\u201d\u00a0 This is helpful for a diving bird as well. (Many songbirds have \u201chollow\u201d bones to reduce weight.)<\/p>\n

Will Pied Billed Grebes Nest in Southern Ontario?<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nYes, this is the same bird! It’s just a photo taken straight into the sun, after the bird emerged from a dive. Now you know why I don’t like shooting into the sun!<\/em><\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t sure whether this grebe would soon be gone or not, so I checked the breeding range for Pied Billeds. It seems that they do nest in southern Ontario so it\u2019s possible I may see this bird again later this summer. I won\u2019t mind if I do: they\u2019re cute!<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThis “Disney-like” big head effect was accidental caused by the angle and by the long lens I was using. It does look cute though!<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, and Who Was A.E. Crookes?<\/h2>\n

As another Crooks, I was curious about the person for whom the park was named. It turns out Albert Crookes was a local businessman and community volunteer, according to the City of Mississauga website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n