Day 3: Pied-billed Grebe
Species: Pied-billed Grebe
Current status: Released
Number of days in care: 56 days
This nestling Pied-billed Grebe was found orphaned near the Santa Ynez River and admitted on July 23rd. At intake, the bird was mildly dehydrated and thin. Initial care included warming in an incubator and supervised swims every 30 minutes.
During its stay, the grebe was given antibiotics and monitored for weight gain, and was transferred on July 29th, to International Bird Rescue in San Pedro, CA, for continued rehabilitation.
After 56 days in care, this grebe was released back to its wild home!
Photo by Sandrine Biziaux from Sea and Sage Audubon
Pied-billed Grebe Fun Facts:
Instead of flying to escape predators, Pied-billed Grebes silently sink beneath the water’s surface, vanishing without a ripple.
During the breeding season, their bills transform into a striking white adorned with a bold black band, a feature that inspired their "pied" name.
Pied-billed Grebe chicks hit the water almost immediately after hatching, swimming effortlessly under the protective watch of their parents.
These grebes consume their own feathers to protect their digestive tract, creating a stomach plug that traps and safely breaks down fish bones.
Their nests, anchored to aquatic plants, float on the water, rising and falling with the levels to keep their eggs safe from predators and flooding.