Loch Ness Monster? Ut oh, it’s surfacing, and it’s looking directly at me! Or maybe not…but close enough in look and unfortunately somewhat in status.
Horned Grebes (Podiceps auritus) are listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as “Vulnerable”. We often do not get to enjoy them close-up like these views I was afforded last week. While their wintering plumage is meant to camouflage them in the water, their piercing red eyes are a bright beacon on even the dullest of late winter days.
Keep an eye out for the species if you’re in coastal Connecticut all the way to the shores of Lake Erie. Good luck to this bird on its journey north!
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
