Painted

Published

1932

Volume

1

Plate

6

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Piedbill Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

DESCRIPTION

Back in days when mosquitoes, muck and heat were merely incidents, I stumbled on a nest with the bird on it. She flicked her head rapidly while sliding off and there was only a mound of reeds. Underneath were six dull green-brown eggs--they had been covered in a few seconds. I wanted that bird for my collection and camped right there for three hours. Her patience won. As the years went by and I met "Water witches" more often, the characteristic which impressed me most was their voice! I have watched youngsters riding on the parents' backs, following them in a hurrying little bunch--I've caught them, too, but never extinguished their lamp of life. Others have not always kept finger off trigger and how these birds survive in face of so many enemies is a miracle. Unless caught in close quarters they often evade danger, pseudo hunters, Hawks or minks, by diving and seeking reed-havens where only the bill is out of water.

All accomplishments fade before their extraordinary voice.

In Spring from our meadow comes-how-how-how-how-er-how-re-how-er-how?

It sounds like a lost spirit questioning the mystery of life. Then the love notes of the female-uh-her-uh-her-uh-her-huh! perhaps followed by a silly series of keggies. The Male answers with loud queries War-you? war-you? war-you?

Sometimes the noise is so full of wailing that the first mate runs into the house! "Why-something is being Killed down there!"

RANGE

Locally thruout North America from central British provinces south to central United States. In mild seasons, Winters north to New Jersey

piedbill-grebe
puffin-largebill-puffin
Puffin, Largebill Puffin
013-013a
murre-california-murre
Murre, California Murre
030-030a
brunnich-murre-pallas-murre
Brunnich Murre, Pallas Murre
031-031a
kittiwake-pacific-kittiwake
Kittiwake, Pacific Kittiwake
040-040a
western-grebe
Western Grebe
1
pacific-loon
Pacific Loon
10
redthroat-loon
Redthroat Loon
11
tufted-puffin
Tufted Puffin
12
horned-puffin
Horned Puffin
14
rhinoceros-auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet
15
cassin-auklet
Cassin Auklet
16
paroquet-auklet
Paroquet Auklet
17
crested-auklet
Crested Auklet
18
whiskered-auklet
Whiskered Auklet
19
holboell-grebe
Holboell Grebe
2
least-auklet
Least Auklet
20
ancient-murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
21
marble-murrelet
Marble Murrelet
23
kittlitz-murrelet
Kittlitz Murrelet
24
xantus-murrelet
Xantus Murrelet
25
craveri-murrelet
Craveri Murrelet
26
black-guillemot
Black Guillemot
27
mandt-guillemot
Mandt Guillemot
28
pigeon-guillemot
Pigeon Guillemot
29
horned-grebe
Horned Grebe
3
razorbill-auk
Razorbill Auk
32
dovekie
Dovekie
34
skua
Skua
35
pomarine-jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger
36
parasitic-jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
37
longtail-jaeger
Longtail Jaeger
38
ivory-gull
Ivory Gull
39
eared-grebe
Eared Grebe
4
redleg-kittiwake
Redleg Kittiwake
41
glaucous-gull
Glaucous Gull
42
iceland-gull
Iceland Gull
43
glaucouswing-gull
Glaucouswing Gull
44
kumlien-gull
Kumlien Gull
45
nelson-gull
Nelson Gull
46
great-blackback-gull
Great Blackback Gull
47
slatyback-gull
Slatyback Gull
48
western-gull
Western Gull
49
mexican-grebe
Mexican Grebe
5
herring-gull
Herring Gull
51
california-gull
California Gull
53
ringbill-gull
Ringbill Gull
54
shortbill-gull
Shortbill Gull
55
heermann-gull
Heermann Gull
57
laughing-gull
Laughing Gull
58
franklin-gull
Franklin Gull
59
piedbill-grebe
Piedbill Grebe
6
bonaparte-gull
Bonaparte Gull
60
ross-gull
Ross Gull
61
sabine-gull
Sabine Gull
62
loon
Loon
7
yellowbill-loon
Yellowbill Loon
8
blackthroat-loon
Blackthroat Loon
9