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BIRD LOVERS CORNER
To follow up on last month's column, information on other water birds that frequent the Okanagan Valley would be in order. I am writing about the small and interesting families of Loons and Grebes.
HORNED GREBE - This grebe is a small compact duck like bird with a pointed bill and a flat topped head.. It measures 14" in length and weighs 1 lb. It is more common in winter showing black and white non-breeding plumage, similar to the much larger Western Grebe but with a significantly smaller neck. However in the breeding season, there is a spectacular change in plumage. The body and neck change to a rufous color and the ear tufts (giving rise to the name horned grebe), become a solid golden yellow. This presents one of the most impressive colour change in nature. The voice of the horned grebe is much the same as all other grebes, a squealing ear piercing sound. Besides feeding aquatic insects the horned grebe will eat small squawfish, kokanee eggs and crayfish. I would think that mysis shrimp could form part of their diet too. They breed and nest in more northerly regions of the Province.
2007-08
EARED GREBE - This is our smallest grebe averaging 13" in length and only ll ounces in weight and are arguably the least common in our valley. It is very similar in appearance to the Horned Grebe and in the spring there is another spectacular change in plumage The crested black head sports wispy yellow plumage on the side of the head, and a dark neck which replaces the less colorful winter plumage. The Eared Grebe often fluffs the rear feathers, creating a " high stern" appearance.
PIED BILLED GREBE - This bird can be categorized as a small pond Grebe .Weighing slightly more than the Eared Grebe at 1 lb. and measuring 13inches, it is very secretive bird, inhabiting small reed ponds hiding in aquatic vegetation. They are a dull tawny brown in colour with a thick chicken like bill that has a black band in the breeding season with only a small change in plumage in the breeding season. This bird breeds in the Okanagan. When disturbed, the Pied billed Grebe hides in the vegetation , whereas other Grebes swim to open water. The call is almost like a squeaky "cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo".In last month's column I wrote of the other two grebes, the Red-necked Grebe and the Western Grebe that frequent the Okanagan Valley.
LOONS - Open water is the preferred habitat of these large water birds with large dagger-like bills. They are longer bodied and thicker necked than grebes. Loons can dive to 200 feet. Loons can swim with the body well out of the water, while at other times with only the neck out of the water. They can dive with barely a ripple on the water. The take off from the water is long and low flight pattern, much like a big jet needing a long runway to take off. Running along the surface, it often will accompany the take-off with loud squawking. In flight the outline is hunchbacked with a slight droop to the neck, with the broad webbed feet projecting on the back in rudder like and beyond the stubby tail. They only touch land when at the nest as the legs are set far back on the body. They can only walk, by plowing the breast forward very awkwardly. The loon is identified with the Canadian wilderness, and its unique call is used by film-makers to enforce the wilderness aspect of their film. In Europe Loons are known as Great Northern Diver,
COMMON LOON - The winter plumage of this large bird 28" and weighing 9 lb. is dark gray, but in the breeding season the head and neck become glossy black, and shows a broken white collar or necklace. The loon is a favorite of story tellers as to how the loon got this necklace. The back is checkered black and white. The loud, haunting wail or laughing call, echoing across the water is such a joy to hear, especially early in the morning as the mist rising off a northern lake. Unfortunately there have been numerous deaths among the loon population, due to ingestion of lead, from fishing weights. This has forced a regulatory change to weights using non toxics material. Loon nests, built very close to the water's edge, are still being destroyed by wave-action from motorized water craft that come too close to shore. There is current a study across Canada to monitor the effect of nest destruction. The young, usually 2 are often carried on the back of the parent bird. The Common Loon was a common breeder in the Okanagan until the advent of water sports and extensive housing development. They arrive soon after the ice has melted on local lakes, although a few may be found in the winter as long as there is some open water. It has been recorded that loons have killed Mallards, Golden Eye Duck and even Grebes, but their main diet is fish and will eat amphibians, snails and insects.
Other loons seen occasionally, are the Red-Throated Loon, a coastal and arctic breeder, the Pacific Loon on migration to and from northern habitats. and the Yellow-Billed Loon another arctic breeder, seen only rarely in winter.
Pat Westheuser,
Central Okanagan Naturalist Club |
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