At 09:45 PM 8/8/97 -0700, you wrote:
>in a recent Harpers magazine article the author suggested that grebes
>can't walk on land and that those westerns found stranded above high tide
>are really just in need of a lift back to the water where they can get a
>running start at flight. Since I have occasionally seen these birds and
>passed sadly by, assuming they were sick, I would like to know if the
>author is more right than wrong. Thanks
>
Hi Judith,

The author is right - they don't walk well on land. The same holds true for
Loons. The reason is their legs are set far back under the body close to
the tail for maximum swimming ability. However, balance on land is
extremely difficult at best. We often get them into rehab and find they're
perfectly healthly but have become stranded on land. Unfortunately, without
food and water their condition (obviously) will deteriorate quickly. If you
see one on the side of the road, by all means give it a lift (but watch your
eyes around that beak!).

Peggi
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz 122 W, 37 N)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com
http://www2.cruzio.com/~woodduck/


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"