Happy to see you!

  Along about this time of year, it seems that the Bayou is the gathering place for any number of waterfowl.  Most of these are on their annual migration back to the far north and are only stopping over for a quick refresher.  Once they fill up their bellies and become well-rested, they will head northward with a quick pace.  It will soon be breeding season and nests are to be built.  Here, though, a few stay on and raise their broods amongst the marshes and mudflats.  The only duck that calls the Bayou its home full time is the Mottled Duck which closely resembles the Mallard.  The Mottled Duck is actually endangered of losing its title because of the inter-breeding between the two ducks.  Localized tame Mallards are slowly taking over the Mottled Duck population.  It is sad in a way.  To lose any specific group due to human intervention is a great loss for us all.

  However, one type waterfowl is doing well here.  The Pied-billed Grebe population seems to be on the rise.  Knowing that the Grebes stay here year round makes me happy as I really like these tiny birds.  In the "duck" world, the grebes are, indeed, tiny!  Although, that statement is highly misleading as Grebes are not ducks at all.  Grebes are in an order all their own.  But, to me at least, the Pied-billed Grebes are some of the cutest of all waterfowl regardless of which "order" they belong.  

  Tiny is a correct description of the birds.  The Pied-billed Grebe weighs in at a around fifteen ounces full grown.  Occasionally, if well-fed, one can get up to around twenty ounces but that is considered quite large. The birds are rarely seen in flight as they much rather swim.  To escape predators they take to diving.  Grebes are expert "submarines"!  They can swim underwater with ease and can even catch prey while doing so.  

  A little known fact about the Pied-billed Grebes is that while preening themselves, they actually eat their own feathers and have been seen feeding them to their chicks.  Scientists seem to think this aids in their digestion as the feathers form a sort of sieve that sifts out harmful bones and such from their diet.  The feathers catch these parts and allows the bird to regurgitate them instead of the sharp bones entering the intestines where damage can be done.  

  I was glad to see a number of the little Pied-billed Grebes gathering near the Bayou today.  Hopefully, this family will stay nearby and multiply.  They are comical, curious little birds that put on quite the show for me as I sit on the pier.  Happy times can be spent watching the Pied-billed Grebes!