Red-necked Grebe Mating Ritual

[Dinusaur]

On Monday I was at CSSP; a beautiful spring day put everyone around in good spirit except for the Snowy - she simply kept on snoozing amidst all the raucous. Here's a series of shots of a pair of red-necked grebe going through their mating ritual. It was very interesting to observe; a video camera would've been better.

1. It all started with a kiss


2. Then he tries to offer her a stick - can't tell if she showed any interest in this


3. So he brings in a different stick


4. Puts it around his neck in case that gets her going


5. Then he brings her to a little green patch to show his nest building prowess


6. At the end they started singing and dancing together. Happy Ending

[Howieh]

Terrific sequence! Boy, how times have changed, when I tried this fifty years ago (this August!) she would only accept a ring!

Btw, does anybody know when she (the snowy owl) is most likely to leave? Tomorrow looks like a pretty nice day so I will try to visit CSSP (unless of course my bride has other ideas!)

[Brian Bailey]

Great sequence!  I could hear them calling from several hundred metres away yesterday.  (I didn't make it down to the open water.)

Btw, does anybody know when she (the snowy owl) is most likely to leave? Tomorrow looks like a pretty nice day so I will try to visit CSSP (unless of course my bride has other ideas!)

I would say she could depart any day, but she does seem very comfortable there.  I recall one stayed on the Leslie Street Spit into May a few years ago, but that was exceptionally late.  She will almost certainly leave by late this month when activity at the yacht club picks up.  I believe they start putting the boats in on the 25th.

BB