The Case of the Grounded Grebe

It was a gray and foggy morning when a duck-like creature tried
to make a quick getaway to a lagoon, but he instead flew smack-dab
onto the pavement near the Morgan Hill Police Department.
Curtesy of Werc staff

It was a gray and foggy morning when a duck-like creature tried to make a quick getaway to a lagoon, but he instead flew smack-dab onto the pavement near the Morgan Hill Police Department. 

A cop, on his way to work, spotted the offender and arrested him for impeding traffic.  At the department, the bird was held for questioning, but he kept his beak shut. 

The police officer’s family brought it to the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, where staff investigated the situation and determined that the bird just needed a little rehabilitation and relocation, not long-term incarceration.  It wasn’t destined to be a jail bird. 

Perusing the books (“Peterson’s Field Guide”), WERC staff identified the bird as Podilymbus podiceps, aka the Pied-Billed Grebe.  Some of its other known aliases are “hell diver” and “water witch.”  The 13-inch-long grebe disguises its appearance to fit the season. In winter, for example, the distinctive black, mustache-like ring on its beak disappears. 

The bird’s other distinguishing features are its lobed toes and legs set far back on its body – ideal adaptations for eluding the fuzz (though actually, its predators are other feathered culprits) by diving into the water or sinking like a sub with only its head visible. 

The grebe is also adept at swimming with the fishes.  But its legs aren’t so good for pushing off from dry land; it’s almost as if its feet have been shackled.  It spends most of its life on the water and probably landed in the middle of the street because the wet road looked a lot like a watery sanctuary.

 During the bird’s probationary period, WERC wardens kept an eye on it for a couple of days, fattening him up on lots of smelt before letting him fly the coop.  He’s now a free bird at an undisclosed location – a local pond filled with lots of bugs, fish and crawdads to eat. That kind-hearted Morgan Hill police officer deserves kudos and a medal for rescuing the grebe from oncoming traffic and giving it another lease on life.

WERC, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, provides the community with rehabilitation services for orphaned, injured and sick native wildlife. To contact WERC, call (408) 779-9372 or visit www.werc-ca.org.