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December 13, 2007 - Horned grebe from hellI SA • The Suffolk Times • December 13. 2007 Horned grebe from hell Barbara and I have been checking over our local waters in hopes of see- ing some of our winter visitors from up North. We returned to Mattituck Inlet, where we recently enjoyed see- ing the snow buntings on the beach and found oldsquaws, goldeneyes, a common loon and even a lone grebe feeding in the inlet. We watched as one would surface with something in its bill only to have a hungry gull sneak in and rob the diver of its meal. This scene of FOCUS robbery is com- mon during the ON cold and lean NATURE months of win- ter. by Paul In observing wildlife, we usu- Stoutenburgh ally take notice of the larger birds and animals simply because they are easier to identify and there's less chance of mistaking them when they are larger. But by paying atten- tion only to the larger ones, we often miss seeing some of the smaller ones that often have interesting character- istics and behavior. Let's take a closer look at one of these smaller divers and see what it's all about. I've chosen one of the smallest, the horned grebe, which we see only during the winter when its plumage is dark and white. Sorry to say we don't get to see them dur- ing nesting time, for it's then they're in their colorful orange- reddish and black breeding attire. These divers are often overlooked because of their small size. And then, just when you try to check on them more closely, they disappear and go below, where they continue their search along the rocks and debris for small marine life, such as crustaceans and small fish. They, like other wildlife, must continually be on the lookout for food. It is interesting to note here when talking about the feeding habits of the horned grebe that they are known for regularly eating their own feath- ers, so much so that their stomach usually contains a matted plug of them. It is believed this plug acts as a filter to hold the sharp fish bones in the stomach until they dissolve and no longer hold a threat to the bird. If you're lucky enough to see one of these miniature loon- shaped div- ers, you'll immediately notice that the paddling feet are very different. Ducks have webbed feet, while these small grebes have lobed toes in place of the webbed feet. They use their lobed toes to get around under the water as well as to steer themselves in flight, for they have very short tail feathers. Ducks have longer tail feath- ers that steer them in flight. When I was a kid, we knew these small grebes by their local name "hell diver." The reasoning behind that name was that when they surfaced, they appeared to have come from down deep in hell, where they held their breath for up to three minutes or more. Another thing we kids were told was that these little "hell divers" were so fast at getting under the wa- ter they could beat the hunters' shot by diving for safety. I think that old wives' tale was told to cover up for a We hardly ever see a horned grebe in its "courtship plumage" here on the North Fork. I was able to photograph this bird in its prime plumage because it was hurt and unable to fly back to its nesting ground In the far North. This small ducklike bird, the pied - billed grebe, we see diving in our creeks and bays usually prefers fresh water, which could be the reason we see so little of it. It, like the more common horned grebe, can disappear right in front of you by expelling air from its feathers. These small bufflehead ducks are spending the winter right now In our bays and creeks. The bufflehead is the smallest duck In North America and nests In cavities In trees, preferring the hole of a northern flicker. The female Is smaller than the male and can fit into an opening 21/4 x 31/4 inches. That's a pretty small duck, 1'd say. poor shot by the gunner. was when a speedboat hit one feeding The only time I've ever seen the below the surface. Because the bird horned grebe in its summer plumage was hurt, it was unable to take off and Ily to its northern nesting ground. It was at that time I found this brightly colored injured bird sitting on the marsh grass and was able to photo- graph it. The thing I remember most about photographing this unfortunate bird was its bright red eye. If we could see these birds in their breeding grounds in the Northwest, we'd find they build floating nests hidden amongst the vegetation. When the young hatch, they soon take to the water, often riding on their par- ents' backs and even going underwa- ter when the parent dives. This little diver has a close relative called a pied - billed grebe. We see it occasionally here in our creeks and bays throughout the North Fork but it is usually associated with fresh water. It's about the same size as the horned grebe. Previously I spoke of the horned grebe building a floating nest, which is quite unusual, but here's one even better. The smallest of our ducks, the bufflehead, seen in our creeks right now, builds its nest in cavities, be- ing particularly fond of the northern flicker's nesting site. The bufflehead gets its name from the large head resembling the mas- sive head of the buffalo. Its name was once buffalo head and then shortened to bufflehead. It is a strikingly beau- tiful duck with its black and white plumage and a large white patch extending from the eye to the back of the head. To get some idea of how small these buffleheads are, some- one made a study of the size of the opening they go through to get into the flicker's cavity hole. They came up with the smallest size being 2 V4 inches and the largest opening being 3 V4 inches. No wonder they say it's the smallest diving duck in the whole of North America. e Suffolk Times • Dec orn ember 13, 2007 ed retie from hell , "k ,k:.. Suffolk Times photos by Paul Stoutenburg Fe hardly ever see a horned grebe In Its "courtship plumage" here on the North Fork. I was able to photograph thl A in its prime plumage because It was hurt and unable to fly back to its nesting ground In the far North. Barbara. and I have been checking over our local waters in hopes of see- ing some of our winter visitors from up North. We returned to Mattituck Inlet, where we recently enjoyed see- ing the snow buntings on the beach and found oldsquaws, goldeneyes, a common loon and even a lone grebe feeding in the inlet. We watched as one would surface 'with something in its bill only to have a hungry gull sneak in and rob the diver of its meal This scene of FOCUS robbery is com- mon during the ON cold and lean NATURE months of win- ter. by Paul In observing Stoutenbur h `'Wildlife, we usu- g ally take notice of the larger birds and animals simply because they are easier to identify and there's less chance of mistaking them when they are larger. But by paying atten- tion only to the larger ones, we often miss seeing some of the smaller ones that often have interesting character- istics and behavior. Let's take a closer look at one of these smaller divers and see what it's all about. I've chosen one of the smallest, the horned grebe, which we see only during the winter when its plumage is dark and white. Sorry to say we don't get to see them dur- ing nesting time, for it's then they're in their colorful orange- reddish and black breeding attire. These divers are often overlooked because of their small size. And then, just when you try to check on them more closely, they disappear and go below, where they continue their search along the rocks and debris for small marine life, such as crustaceans and small fish. They, like other wildlife, must continually be on the lookout for food. It is interesting to note here when talking about the feeding habits of the horned grebe that they are known for regularly eating their own feath- ers, so much so that their stomach usually contains a matted plug of them. It is believed this plug acts as a filter to hold the sharp fish bones in the stomach until they dissolve and no longer hold a threat to the bird. If you're lucky enough to see one of these miniature loon- shaped div- ers, you'll immediately notice that the paddling feet are very different. Ducks have webbed feet, while these small grebes have lobed toes in place of the webbed feet. They use their lobed toes to get arounu uiiu­ • water as well as to steer themselves in flight, for they have very short tail feathers. Ducks have longer tail feath ers that steer them in flight. When I was a kid, we knew these small grebes by their local name "hell diver." The reasoning behind that name was that when they surfaced, they appeared to have come from down deep in hell, where they held their breath for up to three minutes or more. Another thing we kids were told was that these little "hell divers" were so fast at getting under the wa- ter they could beat the hunters' shot by diving for safety. I think that old wives' tale was told -to ever up for a A This small ducklike bird, the pied - billed grebe, we see diving in our crei and bays usually prefers fresh water, which could be the reason we see little of it. It, like the more common horned grebe, can disappear right in fr of you by expelling air from its feathers. ese small bufflehead ducks are spending the winter right now in our bi d creeks. The bufflehead is the smallest duck in North America and ne., cavities in trees, preferring the hole of a northern flicker. The female aller than the male and can fit into an opening 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inches. Tha retty small duck, I'd say. rvVl N11UL oy ine gunner. The only time I've ever seen the horned rebe in its slimmer plumage vas w en a spee oat hit one feeding Below the surface. Because the bird vas hurt, it was unable to take off and fly to its northern nesting ground. It was at that time I found this brightly colored injured bird sitting on the marsh grass and was able to photo- graph it. The thing I remember most about photographing this unfortunate bird was its bright red eye. If we could see these birds in their breeding grounds in the Northwest, we'd find they build floating nests hidden amongst the vegetation. When the young hatch, they soon take to the water, often riding on their par- ents' backs and even going underwa- ter when the parent dives. This little diver has a close relative called a pied - billed grebe. We see it occasionally here in our creeks and bays throughout the North Fork but i is usually associated with fresh water. It's about the same size as the horned grebe. Previously I spoke of the horned grebe building a floating nest, which is quite unusual, but here's one even better. The smallest of our ducks, the bufflehead, seen in our creeks right now, builds its nest in cavities, be- ing particularly fond of the northern flicker's nesting site. The bufflehead gets its name from the large head resembling the mas- sive head of the buffalo. Its name was once buffalo head and then shortene to bufflehead. It is a strikingly beau- tiful duck with its black and white plumage and a large white patch extending from the eye to the back of the head. To get some idea of how small these buffleheads are, sorrte- one made a study of the size of the opening they go through to get into the flicker's cavity hole. They came up with the smallest size being 2 ]/4 inches and the largest opening being 3 1/4 inches. No wonder they say it's the smallest diving duck in the whole