Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) Skye Christopher G. Haas
Alaska. 3/7/2003 © Al Menk
Perhaps the most restricted-range breeding bird Historical records indicate that the species has always been rare throughout Michigan. For in Michigan, the Red-necked Grebe has been example, Barrows (1912) estimated fewer than a confirmed nesting in only one location in the dozen records for the state, mostly scattered state during this atlas period. Better known as a single birds. It was not until the establishment of fall transient, Red-necked Grebe migration can lake watches at Whitefish Point and along the sometimes be remarkable in late August and north shore of Keweenaw County that Red- early September, when tens of thousands necked Grebes were documented as a regular migrate over Lake Superior. However, it is only migrant on Lake Superior (Granlund 1994). The in a sheltered bay on northern Lake Michigan majority of spring migrants in the Keweenaw that the state’s birders can get a glimpse of a Peninsula move through in a 17 day period with different side of Red-necked Grebe biology. On a peak in the last week of April (Binford 2006). the upper reaches of Little Bay De Noc, off- Known as a regular spring migrant in modest shore reed beds provide a safe haven for this numbers, counters at Whitefish Point were attractive diving bird. Far more common on the amazed to observe thousands of birds during the prairie provinces of Canada, and ranging up into fall when a waterbird count was initiated in Alaska, the Red-necked Grebe is near the 1989 (Dombroski and Leukering 1990, Stout eastern limits of its North American breeding 1991). From 1989-2003, this site averaged an range in Michigan. The only locations east of impressive 12,019 individuals in the fall Michigan where this species nests are on (Bardon 2004). Migration begins in late July Manitoulin Island, Georgian Bay, northern Lake with birds moving through into November. Peak Huron, and on the western shores of Lake flights occur in late August or early September, Ontario near Toronto. The vast majority of Red- with high daily counts of thousands of birds necked Grebes winter along the Atlantic and (Chartier and Ziarno 2004). By late November Pacific coast (Stout and Nuechterlein 1999, Hai and December, Red-necked Grebes are 2007). essentially gone from the state, but small
numbers can be found in bays and harbors on Distribution the northern Great Lakes; some may even Currently found only in Delta County in the attempt to overwinter. Upper Peninsula, this species barely claims a place among the breeding avifauna of the state.
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) Skye Christopher G. Haas
Prior to MBBA I, there was only one confirmed observed in Ontario where this species nests in nesting in Michigan. A nest with seven eggs the heavily used Bronte Harbor (Hai 2007). was found on 16 June 1975 at Cedarville Bay, Mackinac County. Though subsequently A rare breeder in adjacent states and eastern abandoned, the pair re-nested later that summer Ontario, the population is at the eastern edge of and fledged three young (Chamberland 1977). its range in the western Great Lakes (Stout and They were not observed at this location in Nuechterlein 1999). The Wisconsin atlas found following years. During MBBA I, a pair with an average of 25-30 pairs annually in the state. young was reported, but unconfirmed, from But unlike Michigan or eastern Ontario, nesting Bois Blanc Island, Mackinac County (Adams et. was in more traditional prairie pothole habitats al. 1991). Additionally, there were unconfirmed (Brooks 2006). The majority of the Ontario reports from Little Bay De Noc in the 1990s at population is found northwest of Lake Superior the site where breeding was confirmed in to the Manitoba border (Hai 2007). MBBA II (Adams 1991). Breeding Biology In late May of 2005, a pair of Red-necked Red-necked Grebes begin to return to northern Grebes was discovered in a copulatory/post Michigan in late April. Courtship is sometimes copulatory display (Stout and Nuechterlein observed on Whitefish Bay in late April and 1999) in Delta County (S. Haas pers. obs., early May, even though these birds are Byrne 2006). In June, two pairs were present obviously migrants (S. Haas pers. obs.). It is and seemed to be territorial. Breeding was thought that the majority of courtship displays finally confirmed on 28 July: one adult was are conducted on the wintering grounds or observed with a chick on its back, while both during migration - only 15% of Red-necked members of the other pair were seen carrying Grebes arrive to a breeding lake not paired with small fish into a dense reed bed where a nest a mate (Stout and Nuechterlein 1999). was presumed to be located. The following year, three pairs were observed at this location, but Nest building begins almost immediately upon a only one successfully raised chicks (pers. obs., pair’s arrival to the breeding site (Stout and Dombroski 2007). Breeding was noted at this Nuechterlein 1999). However, it may take up to location again in 2007 and 2008, with three and a month or more after the Red-necked Grebes four chicks raised by two pairs in both years arrive at the Delta County site for the reed beds (pers. obs., Dombroski 2008, 2009). Although where their nests are placed to grow in enough up to four pairs have been observed at this site, to allow for nest building (S. Haas pers. obs.) a maximum of two pairs in any year have been Nest building is completed by both adults, and confirmed as successful breeders (pers. obs.). the pair first piles up more buoyant materials on top of both submerged and emergent vegetation. Protected bays with reed beds in northern Lakes Once a platform is built, sometimes within just a Michigan and Huron offer the open and shallow few hours, nesting material is mounded up with habitat needed for growth of emergent a depression in the middle for egg placement. vegetation that Red-necked Grebes require for Incubation takes 22-35 days, and the parents securing their nests (Stout and Nuechterlein care for the young for six to eight weeks. Egg 1999). Proximity to human activity appears to laying may be delayed up to 42 days in response be acceptable to the grebes at their Delta County to potential agonistic interactions with other nesting site as a DNRE boat launch facility is pairs and destruction of nests due to high water located near the small colony (S. Haas pers. (Stout and Nuechterlein 1999). Both factors obs.). Tolerance of humans has also been may have affected breeding at the Delta site, as
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) Skye Christopher G. Haas birds were present from late April or early May every year, but chicks were never seen before mid-July (S. Haas, pers. obs.).
Abundance and Population Trends As noted, the Red-necked Grebe is one of Michigan’s rarest breeding birds, with only two or three pairs present each year since 2005. This is most likely due to a lack of prairie potholes, its preferred habitat for nesting. It is very possible that more nesting pairs occupy the secluded waters of northern Lakes Michigan and Huron. Extensive coastal marshes along the Stonington Peninsula and in the lower St. Mary’s River waterway could certainly host more pairs, and surveys tailored to specifically look for this species in those locations could yield additional records. The North American population is believed to be stable, although declines have been noted in Alaska and the eastern fringe of the population in Wisconsin and Ontario (Stout and Nuechterlein 1999).
Conservation Needs The Red-necked Grebe is a rare and tenuous breeder in Michigan. Surveys targeting appropriate habitat are needed to determine if other nesting locations occur in the state. Where appropriate, boat traffic restrictions near nest sites may benefit breeding birds. Additionally, artificial nest platforms are used by this species at the Bronte Harbor colony in Ontario and these structures may encourage nesting by additional pairs in Michigan. Finally, wetland habitat is required by a number of bird species for nesting and feeding. Wetland loss and degradation is a serious issue in Michigan, as elsewhere, and any efforts to preserve this important habitat will benefit many species and possibly encourage more nesting by Red-necked Grebes in the state.
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) Skye Christopher G. Haas
Literature Cited The Birds of Michigan. Indiana University Press. Bloomington, IN. Adams, R.J. 1991. Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps Hai, A.G. 2007. Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena). In Brewer, R., G.A. McPeek, grisegena). In Cadman, M.D., D.A. and R.J. Adams Jr. (eds.) 1991. The Atlas Sutherland, G.G. Beck, D. Lepage, and A.R. of Breeding Birds of Michigan. Michigan Couturier (eds.). 2007. Atlas of the Breeding State University Press. East Lansing, MI. Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005. Bird Studies Bardon, K. 2004. 2003 Fall Waterbird Canada, Environment Canada, Ontario Field Migration Study Overview. The WPBO Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural Migrant 22(1-4): 6-7. Resources, and Ontario Nature. Toronto, Barrows, W.B. 1912. Michigan Bird Life. Ontario. Special Bulletin. Michigan Agricultural Stout, B. 1991. The Fall Red-necked Grebe College. Lansing, MI. Migration… A WPBO Phenomenon! The Binford, L.C. 2006. Birds of the Keweenaw Migrant: The Quarterly Journal of the Peninsula, Michigan. MP 195. University of Whitefish Point Bird Observatory. Fall Michigan Museum of Zoology. Ann Arbor, 1991. 9(3): 12. MI. Stout, B.E., and G.L. Nuechterlein. 1999. Red- Brooks, W. 2006. Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena). In The grisegena). In Cutright, N.J., B.R. Harriman, Birds of North America, No. 465 (A. Poole and R.W. Howe. 2006. Atlas of the Breeding and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North Birds of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Society for America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. Ornithology. Waukesha, WI. Byrne, A.M. 2006. Michigan Bird Survey: Suggested Citation Summer 2005 (June-July). Michigan Birds and Natural History 13(1): 27-51. Haas, S.C.G. 2010. Red-necked Grebe Chamberland, M.L. 1977. Observations on the (Podiceps grisegena). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. Red-necked Grebe nesting in Michigan. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010. Wilson Bulletin 89:33-46. The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Chartier, A.T., and J. Ziarno. 2004. A Birder’s Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Guide to Michigan. American Birding Accessed online at:
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