Rushing Grebes
by Judi Dressler
Title
Rushing Grebes
Artist
Judi Dressler
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Clark's Grebes (similar to Western Grebes), have various mating dances. One of these is called "rushing", where after some calls ("kreet!") they approach each other face to face low in the water, and suddenly paddle so furiously with their feet that they rise up out of the water and race side by side for about five seconds, covering 15 to 20 meters or more. It is an astonishing feat -- they are the only known animal that can run on water besides a species of small lizard. While doing it, their feet hit the water up to 20 times per second! Males and females do this dance together, but occasionally two males will do it to show off for the females.
When I first saw a photograph of rushing grebes, I knew I had to get a photograph like it, and 3 or 4 years later, I finally had the opportunity! It was so exciting to watch! This is one image out of hundreds that I took.
One of North America’s two marvelously elegant, black-and-white grebes, Clark’s Grebe is a bird of Western lakes and coastlines. Its sinuous neck and angular head give it an almost snakelike air, and its elaborate “rushing ceremony”—a courtship display it shares with its close relative, the Western Grebe—can make it look as if ballet dancers have taken to the water. Search large, inland lakes in summer and ocean shores in winter to find this species, which can occur alongside the more numerous and extremely similar Western Grebe.
Photo taken on May 5, 2021, in southern Oregon.
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Won 3rd place tie win in FAA's Splashing Photography contest on 7/29/2022
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Descriptive keywords and tags for this image include clark's grebes, grebes, dancing, rushing, displaying, running, pond, lake, western grebes, spring, mating dance, mating, breeding, courting, behavior, courtship, rushing ceremony, birds, water, aechmophorus clarkii, podicipedidae, oregon, wildlife, wild, dressler, and judi dressler.
Uploaded
May 12th, 2021
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Viewed 802 Times - Last Visitor from Romeo, MI on 04/25/2024 at 1:47 AM
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Comments (47)
Ann Skelton
Awesome capture Judi! Congrats on your 3rd place win in the Splashing Photography contest! l/f
RAY WHITT
Congratulations on your top finish in the "Splash" contest Judi. Wonderful image, so well deserved.
Linda Brittain
Congratulations on your 3rd place tie in the Go Take A Hike Splashing contest! Great capture!
Ken Lawrence
Congratulations Judi on 3rd place finish in the FAA splashing contest! You have some really great photos!
Jurgen Lorenzen
Revisiting this wonderful image, Judi, congratulations on your top finish in the SPLASHING PHOTOGRAPHY contest! Voted
Morris Finkelstein
Fabulous action photograph of a pair of Clark's Grebes rushing and splashing water, Judi! Congratulations on your Third Place in the Splashing contest! F/L
Larry Kniskern
Congratulations, Judi – your stunning scene finished third place in the Go Take a Hike Photography Group’s Splashing photo contest! It will be placed on the group homepage as a special feature for the week, as well in the Contest Winners thread in the group discussion board for archive.
Gary F Richards
Outstanding composition and excellent artwork! F/L Congratulations on your features!
Jan Mulherin
Congratulations!! This stunning image has been selected to be featured for the week in the “Art for Ever with You -Stunning Outdoor Images” Group Home Page. You are welcome to add a preview of this featured image to the group’s discussion post titled “2021 September: Stunning Group Featured Images and Thank-you’s” for a permanent display within the group, to share this achievement with others. Also feel free to post your feature on our group Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/296998814248643/ Thank you for your participation in the group! ~Jan (September 9, 2021)
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2021 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "Birds In Focus" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2021 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L
Judi Dressler
Thanks to the buyer from Cheltenham, United Kingdom who bought a face mask with this image on 8/19/21. :)
Morris Finkelstein
Elegant action photo of Clark's Grebes in a mating dance, Judi! Voted your entry in Best Of Wildlife contest! F/L
Gary F Richards
Spectacular capture, lighting, shading, colors and artwork! F/L …voted for this piece in the BEST OF WILDLIFE contest!
Gary F Richards
Congratulations on your Top Finish in the Focus on Wildlife and the Great Outdoors Contest! Fl
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