B: Exciting news! SCWC has recently received not one, not two, but THREE Horned Grebes. We rarely intake this specie, but when we do, it is usually when migration and ice storms merge. As highly adapted diving birds, grebes' legs are set further back on their body, meaning all take-offs and landings have to happen in water.

A: Though this adaptation serves them well when they dive for invertebrates and small fishes, it poses a problem if they are ever to land on solid ground. From high up in  the air, any reflective surface looks like water and the grebes will seek them out, hoping for a pit stop along the way to the Northeastern states which they inhabit in the spring and summer. Icy roads are mistaken for rivers, the grebes crash land on the asphalt and they cannot get back up in the air, which leads to starvation and dehydration. Not to mention a serious boo boo from the impact.

B: When not flying back and forth between winter and summer homes, grebes spend about 95% of their time in the water. Territories are staked in ponds and lakes; courtship dancing, mating, feeding, preening and sleeping all occur on or in the water. The only time grebes go to land is to lay and incubate their eggs. As their anatomy makes walking difficult, nests are close to the water's edge. Once the eggs have hatched, the precocial young (fully covered in down feathers, able to feed themselves, walk, talk and swim, etc) take to the water where they are fiercely protected by both parents (who are known to pair-bond for life).

A: Those courtship dances Britt mentioned are truly spectacular to watch. Incidentally, there is another migratory bird that comes through our area that has a remarkable courtship. The American Woodcock! The woodcock is famous for its booming calls and use of leks (courtship display grounds). This marsh bird's physical adaptations also create challenges when migrating through our urban landscapes. The woodcock's eyes are located on the sides of his head; very helpful in defense against predators, not so much for flying through downtown DC.

B: As Washington, DC was built on a large marsh, we get most (if not all) of our woodcocks from DC Animal Control. Back in the day, before all the buildings, woodcocks used large marshy areas along their migratory paths to beef up lost fat stores and to provide a breather from all that flying. Given the placement of their eyes, woodcocks have a ten degree blind-spot directly in front of them. These birds cannot even see their own beaks! This is why they have a tendency to fly directly into brick walls.

A: Given that brick walls are often very hard, it's easy to see why the delicately built woodcock would suffer from a confrontation. Their long, skinny beaks which they use to probe the mud for worms and other insects can be easily damaged. Their long, skinny legs which they use to navigate deep brackish waters are easily fractured as well. Truth be told, here at SCWC, we secretly believe that woodcocks were seriously shortchanged as far as body parts go.

B: As far as both of these species are concerned, our style of rehab is to fix their problem as quickly as possible. These birds tend to have higher stress levels, so captivity does more harm than good. We also try to release them as soon as possible to minimize the impact on their migration. Nothing could be worse than traveling all that way to find all the good territories (and females) have been taken.

A: Provided these animals eat well for us and are able to fly well, they can make it out of here very quickly. Sometimes the release itself can be tricky as we have to make sure to point the woodcocks in a direction with no trees, buildings or walls. We're always ready with nets and towels in case it goes awry.

B: As these birds know where they are going and how to orient themselves, they can be released in a nearby area (our own marshy backyard for the woodcocks and a neighborhood lake for the grebes), thus reducing transport stress.

A: All migratory birds face challenges brought on by human habitats and practices. We can all help them along their ways by putting food out for migratory songbirds and hummingbirds, putting decals on your shiny windows and keeping on eye out while you're on the road for stranded grebes and other injured animals. We can all enjoy these astounding migrations more if we all chip in to preserve them.

B: Doing your part now will ensure that our wild neighbors will be enjoyed by your children for years to come. TTFN!

P.S. B: Below is a small video we took of the first two grebes after admission (as the third did not come in until the following day). All new patients are established in a protective kennel for at least their first night, to reduce the stress of the sudden captivity. Enjoy!

much like how the grebes now live in our tub, we have used damp mulch to mimic the soft, marshy ground on which the American Woodcok lives and seraches for insect prey. this patient, like virtually all the woodcocks we intake, suffered head trauma when he crashed into an office building in Washington, DC. anti-inflammatories and plenty of hands-off care are in order while we wait for the weather to turn for the better for his release. ~brittany

this adult female Horned Grebe came from Rockville, MD after skidding into an office building. she sustained no injuries, but is a little thin from migration. hopefully, with some rest and an all-you-can-eat buffet of mealworms, dried shrimp and smelt, we can pack the grams back on her tiny frame and send her along her way.  ~brittany

this adult male Horned Grebe came from Washington, DC, where he had skidded across an icy road, sustaining minor abrasions (called road rash) on the bottoms of his feet and the wrist joints of his wings. after a quick clean and a thin layer of antibiotic ointment, he can be left to his own devices of healing, eating and playing in the water.  ~brittany