Incredible Nesting Behavior of Red-Necked Grebes | PhotoWILD Magazine

When most people think of Alaska, I suspect all they see are bears and moose and mountains. For me, however, it’s what lies in between those mountains that truly defines this place: water.
Folks like to joke about mosquitos being the state bird and how that we have more moose than people. Both species are inextricably linked to water in some fashion. And the reason we have so many of both is the fact that Alaska also plays home to twice the amount of wetlands as the entire rest of the United States COMBINED.
Let that sink in for a moment. All the swamps, all the marshes, all the littoral zones at the edges of lakes, the beaver ponds, the bogs, and muskegs and such across the lower 48 states - all of that adds up to half the amount of wetlands here.
There is a reason the idea of Alaska is also inextricable from salmon, why so many billions of birds all migrate north to the boreal forest and arctic regions across this state and Canada, why we play home to all 5 species of loons in the world, and see several hundred thousand sandhill cranes return to nest here every summer.
So far this June, I have invested all my free time into finding and photographing nesting water birds such as loons and grebes. Working from kayaks and packrafts (I wrote a feature article in PhotoWILD Magazine last summer about how these are game changing wildlife photography), donning chest waders, and hauling floating blinds around with me, most days I can be found slogging around in the mud somewhere between the Chugach Mountains and the Alaska Range.
One nest I have been working is that of a red-necked grebe. These are truly fascinating birds and I managed to capture some unique video of their nesting behavior.
Red-necked grebes have an interesting (and brilliant) behavior of hiding their eggs when they leave the nest. Covering their clutch with mud and vegetation, they are then able to keep the nest hidden and the temperature of the eggs controlled when away.
After several days of working with this pair of grebes, they accepted me and my presence in the water with them enough for me to be able to work up close and personal. This allowed me to begin capturing the most intimate behavior and details of their natural history - including this unique egg hiding behavior.
I uploaded a short clip of the female returning to the nest and revealing her clutch of eggs for you to see. While this is a well-known behavior, it’s one that is very rarely seen for the simple fact that these birds go to great lengths to hide and protect their eggs. While I don’t know why, there is something so meditative in watching her attend to this business.
I have more to come from this project. But in the meantime, I wanted to share this special moment with you.

[@jimarner7514]

Great video, thanks for posting that. When I think of Alaska, I think of Adak - I was stationed there June 1972 - June 1973. Jim Arner

[@JaredLloydPhotos]

woah! very different part of AK!

[@ConnieCassinetto-nt9oy]

I love the way she sort of waddles over the nest to get just the right position before she settles in. So lovely.

[@GSmith-qc6zx]

Stunning footage of a beautiful moment. You respected the Grebe and her space, and she rewarded you with a glimpse behind the curtain. Very cool!

[@carolinequinn8320]

Beautiful video, the light is mesmerizing!

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing. subd & 👍104

[@JulieGraulich]

Loved this clip. Thank you for sharing this with us. She's beautiful BTW..

[@johnwelchphotography]

What a cool perspective to see what is normally so well concealed. Thanks for sharing this!

[@sarah-janelaubscher7252]

Too beautiful - amazing how she hides the nest!

[@TheRealEricGhost]

It's wonderful to be able to see this! Such a great capture from your close-by vantage point! Thanks much for sharing.

[@vsmcl3979]

Wonderful footage Jared! Thanks so much for sharing this intimate scene. And your selection of the delicate music pairs so well with the bird's attentiveness to the nest💞

[@anar1072]

Wow! Beautiful birds and video.

[@kellymarquardt6888]

What an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing

[@SteveHecker]

Amazing work. Thanks so much for all the effort and expertise, but especially for sharing.

[@capturingnaturewithsandip]

Amazing & so lovely presented.

[@hollymasepohl8276]

Wow, amazing video. What a cool behavior for you to witness and video. Thanks so much for sharing. I really enjoyed it.

[@dlplant]

Magnificent! Such a amazing and beautiful moment. Well do, very well done!! Thank you for sharing this.

[@josieravenwing8931]

Exquisite, Jared. Thank you!

[@nickswildlifefootage9392]

Stunning footage. Was you in a hide at the time of filming.

[@capturingnaturewithsandip]

New Friend from India.