Notes on Alberta Grebes 



243 



I rigged up a blind of limbs near the nest, and concealed a camera among 

 them. That afternoon, both birds hovered around, and did everything except go 

 on the nest. A few times one climbed up to the nest, only to cross and dive in on 

 the other side. It was very amusing to watch them swim slowly away sideways, 

 then turn and swim toward the nest at high speed, their heads nodding at a great 

 rate, but, as they approached, their courage failed them. 



The next few days, I found that they had become accustomed to the blind 

 and paid little attention to the addition of the camera, and I secured some inter- 

 esting photographs of the Grebe removing rubbish from her eggs, etc. The 

 Holbcell's Grebe is very common in this vicinity, but is usually in small colonies 

 in the larger sloughs and small lakes. On several occasions, I witnessed the inter- 

 esting sight of young Grebes riding about on their mother's back, taking a boat- 

 ride, as it were. The Western Grebe I have seen onl\' in fairly large colonies, and 

 then only at a few of the larger lakes. Eared and Pied-billed Grel^es are also 

 noted in this vicinitv, but not so commonlv as the others. 



HORNED GREBE OX XEST 



