Unison Call Displays of Red-necked Grebes - Birding Wire

In the Bird Photography feature published in the May 6^th issue of The Birding Wire I finished the article with this description of a pair of Red-necked Grebes: “When the male surfaced he looked in the female’s direction, called, and they met just behind some reeds where I could see they were facing one another with their necks stretched high as they began calling in unison. Although I took a photo, the grebes’ activity was obscured by the reeds; but I’ll get another chance was my reaction in the moment – someday.”

Action with an exclamation point is conveyed in this photograph taken in the midst of an interaction between 2 pairs of Red-necked Grebes during prime early evening sunlight (550mm zoom lens, f-9 aperture, 1/1600 shutter speed, 800 ISO).

Only 4 days after publishing the May 6^th issue, “someday” was realized May 10^th during an especially interesting territorial interaction between 2 pairs of Red-necked Grebes on the edge of Herb’s Lake. One pair was positioned near the road with the female mostly hiding among the aquatic vegetation lining the edge, while a more territorial pair of Red-necks pressured the roadside pair. The interactions provided a very interesting series of interactions, but none more impressive than when the pairs would begin unison calling in a most impressive species-specific display. I was thrilled, and the birds were so enthralled in their territorial interactions that I was able to follow the action in my “mobile blind,” pulling ahead or reversing along the almost never-used road (especially on a Sunday evening).

The intensity level of the second male reflects its defensive mode while assuring its mate at the peak of a unison call display between the pair. Photo elements included the time of day, quality and direction of sunlight, the slightest hint of wind, blue sky reflected in the water, a fast enough shutter speed to stop the action at its peak, and finding the grebes while they were in the midst of pair interactions (600mm zoom lens, f-9 aperture, 1/1250 shutter speed, 800 ISO).

The photo action was exciting, and one of the keys to getting good photographs was to rely on the grebes to turn into the sun when they were close to my position. When they faced me, I was able to photograph them during the best sunlight of late afternoon as the charged-up grebes broke into a unison call display. Luckily, both pairs performed this exciting display a number of times and it was a personal thrill to witness the interactions, photograph them, and see the resulting images. I ended the May 6 article with an appropriate suggestion to all photographers: “Stay alert, spend some extra time in the field, and when you find a bird or birds to photograph, spend some extra time in their company – you never know what might transpire before you – and always have your camera within reach and ready for your next photo opportunity.” Good Luck during all your photo opportunities!

Article and Photographs by Paul Konrad

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