Mom to be. Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
This hen Grebe is setting on two eggs. For those of you that follow me on a regular basis know that we thought our beloved Western and Clark Grebes would not rebound from our unrepresented rains this past winter. Lake Hodges in Escondido Ca 20 miles from San Diego rose nearly 7 linear ft destroying all but about a dozen nests of about 150. The nests set on the water attached to reeds and made of reeds/tulies. So they are very vulnerable to big wakes from 150hp bass boats, to heavy wind and rains. But, Mother Nature has a way of rebounding. To date this is the third clutch of nests these persistent water fowl have produced since the devastating floods occurred.
Okay you might say...great story of survival against all odds which is the Germaine point. But, in the comment section is Mother Nature unfolding before your eyes...And that is really the reason for the hen setting on the nest so I could offer you a bit of a story from a photo.
Open the image and look closely at the eggs. A beak is beginning to protrude through the egg on the left that will give way to another successful clutch. How many of you seen this before? I really got lucky to find this. I hope you enjoy as much as I have sharing it with you all. My nest post will show the chicks on moms back as she taxi's them all over the lake while dad feeds them the catch of the day...
God, I love this stuff!!!!
Make it a great week my freinds... It is a choice ya know!
Mom to be. Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
This hen Grebe is setting on two eggs. For those of you that follow me on a regular basis know that we thought our beloved Western and Clark Grebes would not rebound from our unrepresented rains this past winter. Lake Hodges in Escondido Ca 20 miles from San Diego rose nearly 7 linear ft destroying all but about a dozen nests of about 150. The nests set on the water attached to reeds and made of reeds/tulies. So they are very vulnerable to big wakes from 150hp bass boats, to heavy wind and rains. But, Mother Nature has a way of rebounding. To date this is the third clutch of nests these persistent water fowl have produced since the devastating floods occurred.
Okay you might say...great story of survival against all odds which is the Germaine point. But, in the comment section is Mother Nature unfolding before your eyes...And that is really the reason for the hen setting on the nest so I could offer you a bit of a story from a photo.
Open the image and look closely at the eggs. A beak is beginning to protrude through the egg on the left that will give way to another successful clutch. How many of you seen this before? I really got lucky to find this. I hope you enjoy as much as I have sharing it with you all. My nest post will show the chicks on moms back as she taxi's them all over the lake while dad feeds them the catch of the day...
God, I love this stuff!!!!
Make it a great week my freinds... It is a choice ya know!