Let me introduce you to a "water ballet master": Crested Grebe

(The pictures in this article are all taken by the author. Any form of reproduction is prohibited without authorization.)

In the vast waters, there is an elegant creature whose dancing posture is comparable to that of a ballerina, and is praised as the "water ballet master"! It is the Crested Grebe. The Crested Grebe is a bird of the family Grebe. Their most distinctive feature is their courtship dance during the breeding season.

Imagine a pair of crested grebes meeting on a lake in spring. They begin a carefully choreographed courtship ritual: first they stare at each other, then they stand tall, nod in sync, hold water plants in their mouths, and passionately step on the water and bump their chests for a few seconds. It's like a silent symphony!

In addition to their dance, grebes also have a unique survival strategy. Grebes' feather-eating behavior is a manifestation of survival wisdom. Ornithologists have studied the feather-eating behavior of grebes. The feathers they swallow will enter the crop and form a dense ball there. This behavior helps the digestive system of the grebes filter out small bone fragments and other hard substances that may be ingested during hunting. The hair ball formed by feathers in the stomach can prevent these hard objects from scratching the stomach wall, and at the same time help to concentrate them for easy excretion.

Newly born Grebe chicks cannot find food on their own and can only wait for their parents to feed them. The parents bring fish and shrimp and feed the chicks with their soft feathers.

The Crested Grebe is a winter migratory bird that is good at swimming and diving. Most of its nests are located among the water plants in shallow water. As a national "three-protected" animal (i.e. a terrestrial wild animal that is beneficial or has important economic and scientific research value and is protected by the state), the Crested Grebe also faces challenges in survival. Its living environment has been affected by human activities. The reduction of wetlands and water pollution pose a threat to them. So, when we appreciate the beautiful dance of these water dancers, don't forget our responsibility to nature.

Protecting the Crested Grebe is protecting our common home. I hope this article can arouse people's attention to the protection of the Crested Grebe and its habitat. Through the dissemination of scientific knowledge, we can better understand the lifestyle of these beautiful creatures and what we can do to protect them. Let's act together to create a safer future for the Crested Grebe and other wildlife!