In the bigger (south) pond at Tacoma's Wapato Park two blocks east of I-5
on East 72nd Street there is a clearly visible grebe family seemly doing
well with a nest in the big water lily patch just south of the causeway
between the upper and lower ponds. There are five chicks and both parents are
busy feeding them. The disparity in appearance between the adults and the
black-and-white striped chicks with orange on their heads is remarkable.

If one stands in the middle of the causeway facing south, the floating
nest can be spotted at about the 11:00 o'clock position about 150 feet out,
among lily pads. Takes a little searching, however.

In addition to feeing the infants the parents seem to be teaching them to
swallow feathers at this tender age. As you know, grebes tend to keep a wad
of feathers in their stomachs and to spit up feathers with fish bones,
etc, in them from time to time.

Allan M. Warner Tacoma