Sunrises and Critter Friends

  Dawn is one of my favorite times to be on the pier.   The serenity that comes after the darkness of night is refreshing, to say the least.  Watching the sun peep up over the pines on the opposite shore of the Bayou is nothing short of miraculous.  I can meditate a bit before facing the trials of the day.  

  Yesterday, Mark and I headed to the pier just in time to catch the sun trying to break through a heavy layer of clouds.  In the distance a rain shower gave relief from the bit of a dry spell.  We were hoping it would swing this way but it kept on its northward path.  While we were watching the eastern sky, a small bird swam out from the shore and kept a wary eye on us.  This was a pied-bill grebe.  These birds would rather dive than fly to get away from potential predators.  They do what is called a "crash dive" where they plummet themselves beneath the water and swim for a good distance before bobbing up again.  Pied-billed grebes are known to be able to trap water in their feathers to help with buoyancy.  This allows them to sink deeply and expose just a bit of their body as they scan the area for predators.  Sometimes, you will only see a small head above the water's surface.

  Pied-billed grebes are also known for eating a good many feathers.  They will actually feed feathers to their chicks. This is to create a block against harmful fish bones or spiky fins from reaching their intestines.  The feathers make a plug around the sharp items and the bird regurgitates it much like a cat does a hairball.  

  The little grebe made our morning even nicer.  Being near the wildlife on the Bayou is another part of what makes living here special. Getting to know the critters and their habits has become an interesting pastime.  My critter friends bring plenty of smiles.  Life is good.