Eared Grebe

In many parts of the world, Eared Grebes are common and easy to find.  There are several populations around the world, including one that nests in western North America and migrates to the Pacific Coast and Mexico during the winter.  There are also Eared Grebes across eastern Europe and central Asia, in eastern China and Japan, and a non-migratory population in southern Africa.  Eared Grebes are more abundant worldwide than any of the other 18 species of grebes.  One of the places they’re not found is in eastern North America, so I took the opportunity last week to drive north to the Lehigh Valley to see one that showed up in a small lake in a gated residential community.  It was the first Eared Grebe I saw since one showed up at Memorial Lake State Park in Lebanon County 13 years ago.  It was too far away for a good photo, but it’s the only time I’ve ever photographed this species.

The body of an Eared Grebe changes dramatically throughout the year.  After migrating, its digestive organs grow in size, allowing it to process food much faster and double its weight by adding fat.  At the same time, its flight muscles become so weak that the grebe loses its ability to fly.  During those times, it uses the lobed toes of its feet to swim and dive to find food and escape predators.  Some Eared Grebes may be unable to fly for more than three quarters of the year.  When it comes time to migrate, the grebe rapidly converts its fat reserves to powerful flight muscles as its digestive tract shrinks prior to a long, nonstop migratory flight.

Although Eared Grebes are rare here, three species of grebes are reported each year in Pennsylvania, especially during their spring (March to April) and fall (October to early December) migrations.  The Pied-billed Grebe is the most abundant, followed by the Horned Grebe, which is a close relative of the Eared Grebe.  Much smaller numbers of Red-necked Grebes are also seen each year.