Hitching a ride, Kaituna style.

We're very lucky here in the Valley, with Kaituna being one of the few rivers where Crested Grebes (also known as kamana by maori) breed and nest. Each day they can usually be spotted from the bridge of SH75, but at this time of year it's an even special sight with the young grebes being carried on their mother's back.

Crested grebes are a protected species, with only 300-400 birds in the South Island. Kamana, like many other endemic species, are at threat from the usual array of predators, most notably stoats, cats and birds of prey. Perhaps the biggest threat though is to their habitat as lake margins and tributaries like the Kaituna are coming under pressure from intensification of farming and upland lakes are exposed to hydro scheme expansion.

This chick has grown substantially since I last saw it at the tail end of last week. As it has grown it been 'hanging off' a little bit more; last week it was barely visible wedged between mum's wings, whereas today this wee one has been what I call 'grebe surfing'. Travelling with its head off to one side reminded me of my dogs leaning of out of car windows. It seemed to be having as much fun...

Just as I was packing up the tripod, the male grebe returned 'home' - fresh from a busy day's work out on Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora. I'm sure I heard the grebe equivalent of 'Hi honey, I'm home' as they greeted each other with their call. Grebes may be well known for their grand courtship displays, but it would seem that domestic life with a family is just as caring...