IDENTIFICATION HELP PROTECT NESTING GREBES WESTERN & Learn to recognize the diff erences between Grebe nesting coincides with the busy boating CLARK’S GREBES Western and Clark’s grebes. and fi shing season. Please:

1 AVOID NESTING AREAS Western grebe Stay 300 feet away from colonies and avoid prolonged presence near the colonies.

2 WATCH YOUR WAKE • black on head When moving near colonies, go slowly and quietly below eye to avoid swamping nests and minimize disturbance.

• bill is yellow 3 TAKE A SCENIC DETOUR green Motor, sail, or paddle around fl ocks and colonies instead of through them. • two-note call 4 AVOID BOAT STRIKES Western grebe © Paul Higgins Watch for grebes in open water, especially between May and September, to avoid killing collisions.

5 RESPECT BUOYS AND LIMITS Clark’s grebe Obey buoy markers and posted speed limits for the safety of all.

• black on head 6 PACK OUT YOUR TRASH above eye Adults and young can become tangled in fi shing line, and other plastic trash, and drown. • bill is yellow orange 7 EDUCATE OTHERS With everyone’s help, we can ensure the survival of • one-note call these beautiful waterbirds.

Clark’s grebe © Jerry Ting The Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Western and Clark’s grebes winter mainly near the protects grebes. It is illegal to hunt, harass, kill, or Western grebe © Paul Higgins Pacifi c coast and migrate to inland waters for disturb grebes and/or their eggs. breeding in the summer. In Idaho, they prefer large rivers, reservoirs, and lakes that include shallow water areas with emergent vegetation. Idaho Fish and Game adheres to all applicable state and federal laws and Sharing our lakes with regulations related to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national They feed on small fi shes, aquatic insects, and origin, age, gender, disability or veteran’s status. If you feel you have been these unique waterbirds. discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility of Idaho Fish and Game, invertebrates by diving and chasing their prey. or if you desire further information, please write to: Idaho Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707 OR U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division While at their breeding areas, the grebes do not fl y. of Federal Assistance, Mailstop: MBSP-4020, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, Because their feet are positioned far back on their Telephone: (703) 358-2156. This publication will be made available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact the Department of Fish and Game for assistance. body, they have great diffi culty standing up on land. A publication of the Conservation Sciences Program You’re just visiting, but for these birds the water is home. Putting on a Show Raising the Family Human Impacts The chicks hatch Pesticides in 24 days and Like many birds, grebes have been historically immediately climb impacted by DDT and DDD spraying. Al- onto their parent’s though these particular pesticides have been back, where they banned in the U.S., they still persist on the will ride for 2-4 landscape. Other pesticides that are still in use weeks because the also pose a serious threat. water is too cool

Western grebes perform Rushing Ceremony © Brian Currie for them, and can Habitat Destruction cause hypothermia Grebes return to inland lakes to choose a mate if they fall in for Grebes need large bodies of fresh water to for the breeding season and to raise young. Mate more than a few nest on – lakes, marshes, and sloughs. The selection consists of two complex rituals: the Rush- moments. Both west has lost over 50% of its historic wetlands, ing Ceremony (where both partners “run” across the parents feed and and those that remain often are not suitable surface of the water) and the Weed Ceremony (a pair Clark’s grebe with chick © Katherine Smith protect the chicks for nesting. The main habitat issues for grebes dances together, holding vegetation in their bills). for 6-8 weeks or until the young have fl edged (grown in Idaho are water quality and water level fl ight feathers). The parents may split up, each taking fl uctuations. High nutrient loads and dramatic Display Done; Mate Won one or two chicks once the chicks are old enough to fl uctuations in water levels, which can fl ood swim and dive on their own. nests, make it diffi cult for grebes to success- Once the birds have formed pair bonds, the male fully nest and raise young. fi nds a nest site and both birds build up the nest with fl oating vegetation. After copulation the female lays Grebes at Risk Direct Disturbance 1-6 eggs and both parents incubate and defend the The grebes that attempt to nest in the suit- nest, alternating nest-sitting duties with feeding. Western and Clark’s able habitat that remains are having diffi culty. grebes are Species of Lakes are popular places and people often If they have to leave the nest unattended for any Greatest Conservation don’t realize they are disturbing grebes and reason, they cover the eggs with wet plant material Need in Idaho. At their aff ecting their ability to reproduce. to prevent them from overheating, which can kill the breeding lakes they face embryos. Undefended nests are at great risk: preda- Boat wakes swamp nests, drowning eggs. Any high mortality, where tors will break open and eat the eggs. approach by humans to the colony will cause the biggest losses adults to escape, abandoning nests to over- occur among the eggs heating and predators. In open water, adults and chicks. carry their young on their back, but

© Dan Anderson may be forced to dive to escape water craft. As a result, they dump their chicks into the wa- The largest causes of ter, where they will struggle, become chilled, mortality, unfortunately, and may drown. are all of human origins: Jet ski disturbance© Katherine Smith pesticides, habitat destruction, and direct

Western grebe on nest at Coeur d’Alene WMA © Donald L. Burrell © Dan Anderson disturbance. Nesting on the water can be tough.