My Wonderful Photographic Experience as Red-Necked Grebes Nesting in a Calgary Pond Bring a Baby to the World

Photographs may be clicked for enlargements

Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
The author’s first sighting of the newly born gribette to a pair of red-necked Grebes, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; 09:47 AM, July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

STORY, PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS
By MALIK MERCHANT

For Saturday July 22, 2023, I had planned to drive to the Kananaskis Country. The latest weekly Bear Report that I subscribe to stated: “It is berry season (and the crop is looking good) and there continues to be a lot of bear activity in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country as the bears are taking full advantage of the abundance and feeding on ripe berries.”

However, I was drawn to stay in Calgary because a few days earlier, while on my first photographic walk in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Calgary’s Country Hills Blvd, I had spotted a Red-necked Grebe incubating her eggs in a nest that was floating in the pond’s marshy water. I said that I would not miss the hatching show and decided to stay back, just in case luck was on my side. Of course, there were no guarantees that the eggs would hatch as the incubation period for the Red-necked Grebe can be between 20-23 days. The grizzlies, bighorn sheep, moose and elks as well as the beautiful trails in the Kananaskis Country would always be there but the hatching is an annual occurence.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
Red-necked Grebe and her newly born grebette, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

A breakfast at 8:30 AM at the McDonald’s close to the location of the pond set the stage for me for the next 5 hours. When I arrived at the pond’s north side, I pulled out my binoculars and sighted the Grebe and its mate diagnolly across from me. As I learned, both the male and female incubate. I hurried, bypassing all the bird chirping and animals I saw along the path. When I reached the Grebes’ nesting area, I positioned myself about 25 metres from the nest.

Literally — and you have to believe me on this — I stood there on the same spot for 5 hours, moving a foot or two from time to time. I should have carried my picnic chair but it was a good 10 minute walk back to the car. How could I miss the arrival of a new baby? In total, I took 575 pictures and video, and never felt uncomfortable enough to leave the spot.

When I returned to my my car at about 2:15 PM, the iniside temperature read 38C. The morning shade that protected it when I arrived was gone. The actual outside temperature was 29C.

Out of hundreds of photographs and videos, I am pleased to bring to my readers and friends around the world this very special selection that tell my day’s beautiful story at the pond. It is a day I will cherish all my life.

Please DO NOT MISS the 4 fantastic short videos that follow the photographs.

Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A newly born Red-necked Grebe tries to quake as her parent incubates in the nest, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A duck swimming near the nest of the Red-necked Grebe gets wrapped around with algae as she swims through it, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A bird makes its imposing presence felt, close to the location of the nest of the Red-necked Grebes, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A muskrat swims near the Red-necked Grebe’s nest; its approches to the nest area were repeatedly thwarted by the presence of one of the Grebes in the water, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A Red-necked female Grebe feeds her newly born grebette while her male partner incubates 3 unhatched eggs in the nest floating on water, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
The newly born grebette presents its face to the world, while her birth giving parents await the hatching of 3 eggs in the nest, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
The newly born grebette rests on the back of her Red-necked Grebe parent,looking down into the nest, where her 3 siblings are waiting to be hatched, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A new Red-necked Grebes family, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
The new family of the Red-necked Grebe on a short swim shortly after the birth of the gribette, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A celebratory look on the faces of the Red-necked Grebes shortly after the birth of their gribette, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A moment of deep ecstasy, intimacy and tenderness between the parents of the newly born grebette, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
The Red-necked female Grebe approaches her newly born grebette with nourishment while her male partner incubates 3 unhatched eggs in the nest floating on water, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
The Red-necked Grebe returns to his incubation duty, with the newly born grebette under its wings, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
The Red-necked Grebe settles down in his nest to continue incubating 3 unhatched eggs, with the newly born gribette protuding its neck from underneath the wings of its parent, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
The Red-necked Grebe turns to check out on his newly born gribette resting on his back, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
Before joining parents for a swim, the newly born gribette looks at the nest holding unhatched eggs of her 3 siblings, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Red-Necked Grebe in Country Hills Calgary Pond, by Malik Merchant Simerg Photos
A view of three eggs of the Red-necked Grebes still waiting to be hatched, hours after the birth of the first grebette, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd; July 22, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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In this delightful 30 second video, we see the female Red-necked Grebe bring nourishment to her newborn chick but keeps it a distance such that the baby can’t grab it from where she is in the nest. The mom wants the baby to try out the real world by jumping into the water and win the prize! Amazing!

Red-necked Grebes Bring Their Baby Gribette to the World. Video by Malik Merchant.

This is a beautiful unfolding story. I hope to update you on the birth of the remaining three grebettes in the coming days. I hope the eggs stay safe.

Date posted: July 23, 2023.
Last updated: July 23, 2023 (12:08 PM, EDT, typo corrections and video descriptions added.)

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About the Red-Necked Grebe

Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos

The red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes. Grebes prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites (more at Wikipedia.)

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