DSC_7347Great .Crested Grebe - a photo on Flickriver

            Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps Cristatus

The great crested grebe has an elaborate mating display. Like all grebes, it nests on the water's edge, since its legs are set relatively far back and it is thus unable to walk very well. Usually two eggs are laid, and the fluffy, striped young grebes are often carried on the adult's back. In a clutch of two or more hatchlings, male and female grebes will each identify their 'favourites', which they alone will care for and teach
 
Unusually, young grebes are capable of swimming and diving almost at hatching. The adults teach these skills to their young by carrying them on their back and diving, leaving the chicks to float on the surface; they then re-emerge a few feet away so that the chicks may swim back onto them.
 
The great crested grebe feeds mainly on fish, but also small crustaceans, insects small frogs and newts.
 
This species was hunted almost to extinction in the United Kingdom in the 19th century for its head plumes, which were used to decorate hats and ladies' undergarments. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was set up to help protect this species, which is again a common sight.
 
The great crested grebe and its behaviour was the subject of one of the landmark publications in avian ethology: Julian Huxley's 1914 paper on The Courtship‐habits of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus).

Population:
 
UK breeding:

4,600 pairs
 
UK wintering:

19,000 individuals

Taken on: July 22, 2020

Tags:

Great Crested Grebe

Grebe

Avian

Animal

Animals

Birds.

Bird

Bird Photography

Wildlife.

Wildbirds

Wetlands

Wildlife Photography

Water-Birds

Waterways

Jeff Lack Photography

Countryside

Coastal Birds

Coast

Lakes

Ponds

Estuaries

Estuary

Reservoirs

Reeds

Reed Beds

River Birds

Rivers

Nature

Nature Photography

Nikon

Ornithology « less

Sets appears in: • Great Crested Grebe

Groups appears in: • Wildlife Photography • UK Nature more » • Water Birds • NATUREPIX • UK Wildlife Trusts • Unlimited Birds • "Bird Brained" • WelshFlickrCymru • TMI: your ART & NATURE **NO PEOPLE OR MAN-MADE OBJECTS** P1♥C1 • Wings Of The World • The Worlds Best Nature, Wildlife, And Macro Photography • The European Nature And Wildlife Group • Beautiful Birds • BBC Wales Nature & Landscapes • Wales Online Photography Flickr Group • Official National Geographic Group • Nikon Nature Photography • Wildlife UK • NatureLovers • !*Flickr Award Group*! (GIVE 5 AWARDS) • Wales Birders • the RSPB • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Photographing Birds • Wildlife of the British Isles • Nikon - Nature • !Your Best Animal Photo ~~Award 2 • REFLEXO ↓☆↑ REFLECTION (P1 - A2) • RSPB Love Nature • !A Lot of Water {Post 1 - Award at least 2}! • World of Birds • *Specialist Nature & Wildlife Photographers* (P1 - A2)CLOSED FRO • UK - Wildlife & Nature • Outstanding Bird Photography - P1 - A3 (Admin Invite Only) • Windsong ~ (Admin invite only) ~ P1 - C2 • AWESOME BIRDS ! (Award 2 Please) • Nikon WILDLIFE & NATURE • Uk birdwatchers • Wild Bird Photography • Welsh Wildlife Group • BBC Wildlife aspirations • Swift`Wings ~an invitation group~ P1/C2 • *Feathers & Beaks* P1 - A3 • The Best Wildlife Photography on Planet Earth. • L'arte della Natura - by admin invitation - P1/A2 • World of Wildlife • .*♪• La mia Sonata ~ by invitation ~ P1/A2 • UK wild life watching • Nikon Nature • RSPB Cymru Photo Group • Our Wonderful and Fragile World - P1 - A4 • Wildlife and Landscape Photography • "ATTIMI DI NATURA - MOMENTS OF NATURE" • Treasures of the World • Wildlife Sightings UK • The Wonderful Wildlife UK • This is Nature • "Birds Flock Together" (one bird a day ♥ only birds) • Worldwide Fauna • The World of Birds • Taken in Wales • NATURE'S KALEIDOSCOPE P1 X A1 • Stunning wildlife • Birds of Britain and the Western Palearctic • The Best of British Birds and Wildlife • WildPlanet • Specialists' Choice Nature & Wildlife (P1 - A2) CLOSED FROM 22/ • The Specialists' Hall of Fame CLOSED FROM 22/12-02/01/25 • The Wonder of Waterbirds « less

Stats: 5,883 views / 174 comments