Peggi R. wrote -

> Last night we had the privledge of rescuing a beautiful juvenile Western
> grebe. I have admired these birds from afar with my binocs, but up close
> their red eyes are incredible!
>
> He was released this morning - he'd gotten himself stranded out of water,
> probably during a migration leg. At any rate, he was fine, healthy and wild.
>
> It was such a special event I wanted to share it with you all.

Yes, they are stunners. But the oil which keeps them dry also is quite
smelly. About 6 or 7 years ago around this time of year, an ad. W.Grebe was
grounded by freezing rain at the P.G. airport. The bird was handed to me,
and being late in the day, I took him/her home to paddle around in my bath
tub for the night. He/she survived quite nicely... but it took a while
before the powerful smell of the waterproofing oil diffused from the room.
The bird was returned to open water the nest day and all was fine.

- Jack




Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
Canada
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca