Face Time

Yesterday, this immature Pied-billed Grebe sat in the sunshine waiting for a parent to bring it food. The reflection of the neighboring vegetation gave the water a golden appearance.

Earlier in the week, I experienced a somewhat similar situation. 

From a distance, I heard the incessant high-pitched cries of an immature grebe begging for food. The cries were so constant I wasn't sure whether I was hearing multiple young or just one. When I reached the water's edge, I initially saw only one. In a few moments, the adult appeared. I wondered if it was the mother or the father.

Martin Muller (Grebe Expert and Co-Founder of the Urban Raptor Conservancy) taught me that the males have the taller, heavier bills. Females carry less impressive hardware, which seems to function just fine. I am guessing the adult in the previous photo is a male, like the bird on the right in this photo.

It looks to me that if the top of the bill is approximately level with the bottom of the eye then the bird is most likely a female.

You may also want to note how their tails are almost nonexistent. I suspect having tails might slow them down, as you will see in later examples.

The males need to be impressive during the breeding season to defend their territories. 

Although during the mating season, both the males and the females get the black bibs and develop the two-toned bills - which inspired the term "pied-billed" in their name.

The males spend a fair amount of time negotiating territorial boundaries with the guy next door, and they may have multiple neighbors.

Sometimes they appear to challenge each other by charging across the surface of the water. Their legs are placed at the "tail-end" of their bodies. It almost makes me wonder if their bodies could hydroplane in front of their paddling feet.

This diving example shows the placement of the legs. By the way, they have lobed-toes instead of webbed feet. When they see a fish they want to catch, they push against their feet and dive forward.

Underwater, their lobed toes provide propulsion. It is easy to see how a significant tail would simply get in the way.

I also wonder how much they utilize their wings underwater. This example seems to indicate they keep them tucked in, apparently to facilitate a very streamlined body.

Returning to the birds I saw this week, their wings seem rather small for the size of their bodies. I seldom see them in the air. Wing-wise, one might almost imagine them as being just one evolutionary step away from penguins.

I realize it may not be fair to compare the young bird's undeveloped wings in this line of thought. However, if a mutation in their DNA were to turn off the further development of wings, they would certainly seem more penguin-like.

On the other hand, it would still be a major change for them. Click Here to see the eBird dynamic abundance map which implies they actually travel considerable distances during migration.

The earlier photo of the diving Pied-billed Grebe showed only one aspect of their diving capabilities. They also have another far more subtle approach.

They can change their buoyancy at will. I suspect this has to do with excluding air or water from under their feathers.

Given that we do not see bubbles I am guessing the bird became heavier, relative to the surrounding water, by squeezing water out from between its feathers.

Similar to a submarine, Pied-billed Grebes can simply sink below the surface whenever they choose. 

While the lack of a tail probably makes mating easier, the leg placement must require an exceptional effort to stay upright.

When breeding season passes, the special markings disappear. For the most part, Pied-billed Grebes are a fairly nondescript brown. Even during the breeding season, their exceptional coloring is pretty much all around the facial area.

At the beginning of the breeding season, one of their first priorities is building a nest.

Given that they are diving birds, they do not build their nests in trees or on land, where they would find it awkward and slow to fly or walk. They build floating nests instead.

As odd as this may seem, it is apparently the safest option for incubating their eggs. Whenever they both leave the nest they typically cover the eggs with dead leaves or mud. Once the eggs hatch the young usually leave the nest rather quickly.

For the first week, the mother will often carry them on her back.

The most popular post on this blog showed examples of this behavior. It was called The Mother Ship. Click the highlighted link to see more. 

This week I realized that the most important markings on a young grebe are the exceptional colors around the face.

Just like humans and many other creatures, the first thing a grebe sees when another lifeform approaches is its eyes and face. We, and probably they, are much better at remembering faces than any other aspect of another's body. Note: This very young bird has youthful markings on its back as well as on its face.

With diving ducks, who spend a major amount of time moving among lily pads and other surface vegetation, the head and face may often be the only portion of their body that is visible. I suspect adult grebes need quick facial feedback to inform them whenever an approaching bird is a youth. They may not need to be quite as aggressive when immature birds encroach on their territory - especially since the young may not even be capable of catching food on their own. I am guessing that due to their youthful advertisements, the young get a little extra slack during these early weeks of life. 

This photo seems to reinforce the idea. We can see that the facial markings of youth are some of the last immature indicators left on this developing bird. If the last markings were on the back they would be far less obvious and useful.

The photos from this week show the same sequence of development.

When an older, more developed, young bird returned to beg for food, we can see the youthful indicators are only on its head and neck, as well.

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!

Larry

ps: Thank you to Gary Luhm, who inspired me to keep watching the Pied-billed Grebes this year.

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathe the air and drink the local water, needs to watch and protect our local environment. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms. 

(By the way, my friend Tom Brown pointed out that the application named 'Wildflower Search' is extremely helpful. Click on the highlighted link to see for yourself.

Also, Jane Lundin has created a small package, with a lot of critical information that looks quite handy, and light, for backpacking in the mountains in Springtime. It is titled, Mountain Wildflowers of Washington.)

Another idea that integrates perfectly with living in harmony with nature is the concept of Forest Gardening. Apparently, Native Americans collected and nurtured dense multi-layered gardens of native herbs, plants, shrubs, and trees that produced food and herbal medicines. Even after 150 years of no maintenance, the gardens are essentially intact and the diversity of life remains significantly higher than in the surrounding forests. Click Here to learn more.

What species of tree is this? Is it native to Union Bay?

Scroll down for the answer.

***************

Chinese Wingnut: No. This is a non-native specimen found on the west side of Duck Bay in the Arboretum Collection. (Funny, I always thought wingnuts were what you found holding on an automotive air filter during the 20th century.)

*****************

The Email Challenge:

Over the years, I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements - regarding my posts. Google never responded to my requests for help with this issue. Now, in 2021, the service is being discontinued.

In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:

                Larry, I want to see more of nature. Please add me to your personal email list. 

Thank you for your patience and interest!

My email address is: LDHubbell@Comcast.Net

*******************

A few final photos:

An adult catches a fish...

...and brings it to their offspring.

Have a great day!

 

First Flight?

On May 23rd the post named, "Waiting", described two young eaglets in this nest. The nest is in the center of this photo roughly two-thirds of the way up the tree. The tree stands on the southeast corner of Montlake Cut. 

We can guess the young eagles were around a month old at that time. That post left us with several unanswered questions about the eaglets and their future. For example, might there actually be three eaglets in the nest? Would the nest stay in the tree until the young learned to fly? (In two of the three previous years, portions of the nest fell to the ground. This caused three of the five previous eaglets to land on the ground before fledging. To keep them safe from coyotes, raccoons, or even dogs, all three spent time at PAWS.) Even if neither of this year's young fall prematurely, will they learn to fly without a mishap? When will they take to the air? 

(In 2020, the first observation of Monty and Marsha's offspring flying was on July 16th.)

In early June, it was good to see both young birds as they sat in the nest.

Zooming in makes it a little easier to see the one in front. 

I can't really tell if birds have emotions. However, it does almost look like the one in the back is laughing. We can at least say they both look well fed.

On the 12th of June, one of the young was seen flapping its wings. 

By June 18th, the eaglets were continually voicing their desire for food. 

At this point, after many observations, I think it is safe to say there were only two young in the nest this year.

Their wings were and are surprisingly large.

Their cries for food did not go unheeded. Monty (I believe) dropped off food.

He stopped and checked for oncoming air traffic, before merging into the flight path. 

At this point, the young were perfectly capable of feeding themselves and also large enough to be dangerous. As a result, Monty did not linger in the nest. This behavior is similar to two years ago when the nest was used as a dining table even after the young learned to fly.

By early in July the young were starting to move out of the nest. They could often be seen on nearby limbs. This behavior is called, "Branching".

Although it is not very obvious, the more adventurous sibling is actually another six feet further out on the same branch, with its upper half hidden among the leaves.

Part of branching looks a lot like flying. They flap their wings to stay up in the air while leaping from place to place. Sometimes they even move up to a higher branch. However, I do not consider this first flight until they physically leave the tree. In this case, the bird was airborne for only a second before it landed on a nearby branch.

In this July 8th photo, the more active one is about 15 feet above the nest at the one o'clock position. By moving so high in the tree, it appeared to be demonstrating both the desire and some of the skill required to fly.

This close-up shows the bird sitting on the same branch as in the previous photo. After branching began I have not always been able to find both of the young when I first arrived at the nest tree. However if I spend long enough waiting, the second bird usually reveals itself via movement or its high-pitched food-begging calls.

You may need to turn up your volume to hear these examples.

I am assuming the second bird is the younger one, since it has been staying closer to the nest and has apparently been slower to develop. Lately, it has also been exercising its wings.

Afterward, it moved out of the nest and...

...stretched one wing and then the other.

One of the adults returned to the nest - apparently without any food.

The upper bird became very excited.

It leaped from one branch...

...to the next. 

I cannot physically tell the difference between the two young birds. However, I am willing to assume the more active bird is probably the older of the two. 

My friend Jerry suggested we call them Mountain and Lake (as in Montlake). He also suggested we use the Lushootseed words to honor the Native Americans on whose land we live. (I understand that the Duwamish people lived locally in the Montlake area and continue to live in Seattle, and are still in need of Federal Recognition.)

It seems logical to me that the more active bird should be the one we call "x̌aču?" or "Lake" since water is almost always moving. While the larger and currently more sedentary bird should be called, "sbadil" or "Mountain". 

Perhaps, the greatest challenge with these names is trying to say them properly. Luckily, Jerry noticed that the Tulalip Tribes of Washington have been kind enough to provide verbal online examples. Click on each word and then play the recording to hear the proper pronunciation.

On the 11th of July, I happened to catch both birds in one photo. This has been happening less and less as x̌aču? moves out to more distant locations in the tree. I cannot say for sure if x̌aču? has flown. I have not been present every day all day. However, during most visits, if I was patient he (or she) would reveal himself and so far has almost always been somewhere in the nest tree.

On July 16th, the same thing happened again.

Both of the young were in the nest tree and begging the adult for food.

When the adult left the area, the more active juvenile moved up towards the top of the tree.

Without any drumrolls, he (or she) simply leaped into the air and circled around the tree.

While I cannot be positive this was x̌aču? first flight, I am certain it was the first time I saw him fly.

He was confident in the air and every feather seemed properly developed and perfectly in place.

At least until the American Crow began chasing him. 

Curiously, as long as the young did not fly the crows have left them alone. On the other hand, whenever the adults come to the tree the crows will normally hassle them. Apparently, the sedentary young were not perceived as a threat. However, as soon as this young bird flew it became a target. I guess you might say the behavior of the crow reinforces the idea that this was x̌aču?'s first flight.

From what I have seen, the crow has been present in the area 24 hours a day every day. But that is a post for another day.

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city!

Larry

ps: The most common question I am asked about young fledgling eagles is, "How long will they stay with their parents?" My understanding is that by the first winter they are on their own. By mid-winter, the adults will begin sprucing up their nest and preparing for their next brood of young. Even though it takes the young four and a half to five years before they mature they become totally self-reliant well before they are a year old.

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathe the air and drink the local water, needs to watch and protect our local environment. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms. 

(By the way, my friend Tom Brown pointed out that the application named 'Wildflower Search' is extremely helpful. Click on the highlighted link to see for yourself.

Also, Jane Lundin has created a small package, with a lot of critical information that looks quite handy, and light, for backpacking in the mountains in Springtime. It is titled, Mountain Wildflowers of Washington.)

Another idea that integrates perfectly with living in harmony with nature is the concept of Forest Gardening. Apparently, Native Americans collected and nurtured dense multi-layered gardens of native herbs, plants, shrubs, and trees that produced food and herbal medicines. Even after 150 years of no maintenance, the gardens are essentially intact and the diversity of life remains significantly higher than in the surrounding forests. Click Here to learn more.

What species of plant is this? Is it native to Union Bay?

Scroll down for the answer.

***************

Hardhack: Also know as Douglas Spiraea, is native to Union Bay, the PNW, and the West Coast of North America and is currently blooming.

*****************

The Email Challenge:

Over the years, I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements - regarding my posts. Google never responded to my requests for help with this issue. Now, in 2021, the service is being discontinued.

In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:

                Larry, I want to see more of nature. Please add me to your personal email list. 

Thank you for your patience and interest!

My email address is: LDHubbell@Comcast.Net

*******************

A final photo:

This juvenile Bald Eagle passed over Monty and Marsha's nest while both of their current young eagles were still in the nest tree. Possibly it is a young eagle in its second calendar year, e.g. just over one-year old. That might help explain why it is beginning to regrow its innermost primaries. It takes two years for Bald Eagles to replace all their feathers and they do so a few feathers at a time. 

Also, notice how the feathers on its head are much more fully developed, e.g. the head and neck look larger, as compared to the earlier photo of x̌aču? in flight.