|
English
and Scientific names: |
Western
Grebe
Aechmophomorus occidentalis
|
|
Number
of individuals: |
2, not different in appearance to me |
|
Locality:
LOUISIANA: |
Caddo |
|
Specific
Locality: |
In the big middle of Cross Lake, just
north-west of Shreveport |
|
Date(s)
when observed: |
5 Nov 1974 |
|
Time(s)
of day when observed: |
11 AM |
|
Reporting
observer and address: |
Hubert Hervey, Stonewall LA. |
|
Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
Ellis Ritter: (dec) |
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
Perhaps Horace Jeter, or Jim Stewart |
|
Light conditions (position
of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
Good light on a partly cloudy day, with sun to
our backs. |
|
Optical
equipment: |
10 X 50 binoculars |
|
Distance
to bird(s): |
50 yards to 200 or more |
|
Duration
of observation: |
30 minutes |
|
Habitat:
|
Open lake of a fairly shallow lake. |
|
Behavior
of bird: |
Upon our approach they craned their heads in a
sign of alarm, I observed the long black and white necks. and long bill, then
they dived and separated. They could stay under water a long time and
would come up 100 yards away. I think they heard the motor and swam
under the water away from the sound. I did not see them resting, except
on our initial approach, when they sat on the water with a slight bend in the
neck. We chased them for less than an hour just familiarizing ourselves with
a new species of bird. |
|
Description: |
They were black and white, with a longish dull
yellow bill. neck long white front and black rear, black back, gray in
part of the wing barely visible, very agile at diving and swimming under
water. These are birds about twice the size of Eared and Horned Grebes,
although slimmer in overall impression. |
|
Voice: |
Not heard. |
|
Similar species: |
The Red-necked Grebe is noticeably smaller and
chunkier and darker over all. It does not have a black and white neck.
Horned Grebe in winter has a similar black and white neck, but it is
much shorter and a much smaller bird. I don't see how any bird but the
Clark's Grebe could compare, and the Clark’s did not exist in a
nomenclaturally sense, at that time. |
|
Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
None |
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
None |
|
Identification
aids: |
Petersons. |
|
This
description is written from: |
memory |
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
100% |
|
Date
and time: |
5 Nov 1974 |