All rights reserved. July, 1916- 



BIRD NOTES: 



THE 



JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB 



Grebes. 



By Wm. Shore Baily. 



One of the commonest and most interesting of our 

 water-birds is the Little Grebe {Podicipes fliiviafilis), or Dab- 

 chick as it is more often called. Very few ponds of any size 

 are without one or more pairs of these little birds, although 

 it is quite possible for the unobservant to pass along the banks 

 daily without being aware of their presence; the teatering cry 

 of the birds conveying no hint to their untrained ears. 



Early in April they build up a little floating raft of 

 a nest, attached to some growing waterweed, or overhanging 

 bramble. In this the hen deposits four or five white eggs, 

 which, as incubation proceeds, gradually turn to a dirty coffee 

 colour. On anyone approaching the nest, she carefully covers 

 the eggs with loose waterweeds, and silently disappears 

 beneath the water. Even a trained observer might now pass 

 the nose without noticing it. The hen sits for about three 

 weeks, being fed on the nest by the male bird. The young 

 leave the nest as soon as hatched, but return to it when tired, 

 and also to sleep at night, Both parents now have a busy 

 time, with four or five chicks to feed. For the first week or 

 two aquatic insects are principally used, but as the little 

 ones grow, young sticklebacks and other fry are given. 

 With one nest of five young I kept under observation, I 

 saw both parents feed each young one every minute, that 

 is tc say five visits to the nest by each bird, and this was 

 kept up until the young ones were satisfied and went to sleep. 

 It meant pretty rapid fishing. When the young are about a 

 month or six weeks old, the hen leaves them in their father's 

 cftre and promptly goes to nest again, generally succeeding 



