Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
This is the most common grebe which breeds in the area. In spring, they can be found in all of the deeper ditches, ponds and marshes. Their eerie call, which I won't attempt to describe, sounds almost otherworldly, and most novices are surprised to learn that it comes from this small, shy grebe.
This, like so many marsh birds, is easily photographed from the car. They tend to dive when startled, but after a few moments observing them you should be able to figure out how long they stay under, and about how far they'll swim.
The refuge's Center Patrol Road near the Malheur Field Station has marshes and ditches on both sides of the road. This makes it possible to photograph these grebes in both the morning and afternoon. Buena Vista Pond is also a great place to find pied-billed grebes.
