Southern Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus australis)
a pair with two chicks at the Kaiapoi Lakes on the edge of Christchurch. January 16, 2015. Crested Grebes are interesting in NZ because they used to breed only in the alpine lakes of the Southern Alps. Some would winter on Lake Forsyth outside Christchurch but most stayed at altitude year-round. In the last couple of decades the numbers wintering at Lake Forsyth increased quite a lot, and then eventually a few pairs started to breed on neighbouring Lake Ellesmere. In just the last couple of years birds have been appearing at lakes on the outskirts of Christchurch city, and a few pairs have started breeding here and there. These are the first Crested Grebe chicks I have ever seen! It was neat watching the mother feeding them feathers, and the chicks riding on her back.
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- Category:
- New Zealand - Wildlife
- Uploaded By:
- Chlidonias
- Date:
- 16 Jan 2015
- View Count:
- 917
- Comment Count:
- 3