The Great Crested Grebe
By Lachlan Royle
Habitat and Distribution
Great crested grebes are the most common of the UK's grebes with their being approximately 9,000 across the UK. It is not hard to see where they have garnered their name form as they have a distinctive ruff around their head. It is an 'old world' bird and is found across Europe and Asia. It was once under serious threat in the UK and has previously been red listed, fortunately in the most recent survey, conservation efforts have allowed it to return to green-list status. They are fond of freshwater lakes and artificially made water bodies, but will also venture onto rivers and estuaries relatively frequently. They favour sights that have a broad range of aquatic plants, reed beds are particularly appealing as they are quite shy.
Behaviour
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| A rather poor iPhone shot of a GCC on UEA's broad |
Great crested grebes are superbly adept swimmers, diving below the surface to catch their primary prey source; small fish. They also use their diving capabilities to escape any threats. They have very large splayed feet with webbing, they're also placed very far back in comparison to most birds to act as manual engine to best equip them for an almost aquatic lifestyle, as a result they are scarcely seen on land and look very clumsy when they do occasionally foray onto land. They have a very unique and sweet way of transporting young, often letting the chicks hitch rides on the adults back so they don't get left behind. Maybe most notably Great crested grebes have a fascinating mating ritual. It begins with a budding pair facing one another and reciprocating head-shakes, preening and bill-dipping, all the while producing a very noticeable shrill call. From this they then engage in the near famous dance, here the pair will swim together before rising up out of the water and going chest to chest. the final act in the courtship is a gift, they will collect a piece of weed from the lakebed and carry it in their beak, shaking it from either side whilst rearing out of the water again. It is perhaps one of the best known displays of courtship in our waters.
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