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Australasian Grebe

(Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
Alternative names: "Little Grebe", "Black-throated Grebe", "Red-necked Grebe", "Dabchick", " White-bellied Diver"
Size: 23-25 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Australasian Grebes can be found basically anywhere on the Australian continent, including Tasmania, wherever there is fresh surface water.

They can be found in almost any type of water, even a small, bare farm dam without vegetative fringe will do. Although in principle also present in the arid centre, they will stay there only if/when there is reliable surface water, e.g. in permanent waterholes in rivers or on farm dams.

Sightings

Australasian Grebes can be found regularly on water surfaces in large parts of New South Wales, including inland NSW. Even small dams, some 20x40 m in size, are sufficient for the birds to populate. Only during the breeding season protective reeds and/or islands are required.

In September 2008 a pair settled in for a while on the reed-overgrown dam of the property where we lived, 20 km east of Narrabri.

Photos

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe that has just re-surfaced after a dive, only to find itself confronted with a nosy photographer

Lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage

Australasian Grebe preening

Australasian Grebe, behind, with a juvenile bird, in front

Frontal view of a non-breeding Australasian Grebe

Lateral view of a non-breeding Australasian Grebe

The same bird as above, diving head first

Something one does not often get to see - Australasian Grebe in flight

Watching this one could get the impression that the adult bird was teaching the chicks how to dive

Two juvenile Australasian Grebes

Here a juvenile Australasian Grebe in different light conditions

Lateral view of a chick on our small farm dam

Here a precocial chick seen with one of its parents

Group photo of several species of water birds - a pair of Australian Wood Ducks (centre), Grey Teals (left and right) and Australasian Grebes (the two smaller birds)

Group photo of several species of water birds - a pair of Australian Wood Ducks (far left), a family of Grey Teals (centre) and a pair of Australasian Grebes (front)

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Jan Eggs: 4 - 5 Incubation period: 21 - 24 days Fledging age: 42 - 49 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Australasian Grebes breed Dec - Apr.

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Aquatic plants Height above ground: N/A

Nests can be floating platforms on water surface, anchored to reeds.

Here a bird building its nest in the middle of a small pond

Nest on our small farm dam when it was full for the first time in 10 years; note how this nest has a flat top - the reeds are covering eggs

The same nest about 2 weeks later; now it has the form of a crater, because the eggs have hatched...

... and this little fellow has emerged

Eggs

Size: 36 x 25 mm Colour: Light-brown to dark-brown Shape: Tapered oval

Due to their absorbent surface, eggs darken significantly during incubation.

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Food

Australasian Grebes dive to catch their prey, small aquatic creatures including crustaceans, up to several metres under water.