-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Parent [mailto:dpdvm at whidbey.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 8:58 AM
To: 'Kathryn Hornbein'
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] dying grebes

Hi Kathy and Tweeters,

Those grebes that end up on land are exhausted, hungry or starving and
haven't been properly preening. The biggest problem with these guys is that
they are no longer waterproof and will become wet and hypothermic whether in
fresh or salt water. It is often difficult to provide the environment where
they can be well fed and relaxed enough to begin grooming again. The bathtub
in my vet clinic doesn't always cut it. That is why many of these birds are
transferred to PAWS in Lynnwood. They have a circulating warm fresh water
pool facility that keeps the water squeaky clean. They've done a great job
with those cases I have transferred to them.

I generally get a couple of western grebes a year in the clinic. They have
almost always been flying on a stormy day and somehow get knocked to the
ground, often in someone's backyard. (I've always suspected that they do
most of their flying at night) I fill the bathtub, buy about 20 goldfish and
watch the grebe immediately get down to the business of eating, regardless
if anyone is watching. When the goldfish are gone and the grebe is floating
like a cork, I release it. And no, expanding on the "flying grebe thread",
even though you'd expect it to fly to get away from it's captors it always
just swims away. I've even tried to gently toss it in the air hoping to see
a few wingbeats. They just plop into the water and paddle away while
watching me with a scornful red eye.

Dave Parent, Freeland

-----Original Message-----
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Kathryn
Hornbein
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 11:02 AM
To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] dying grebes

we always have a few very perky and well-appearing grebes on Lake
Sammamish. What if these saltwater grebes were transported to fresh
water lakes? Just wondering.

kathy hornbein
bellevue
kurlew at earthlink.net
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