San Diego has over 500 different species of bird that migrate though or live here. One of the more unusual is Grebes. “[They are] white birds with a black neck and head and very red eyes,” said Brian Caldwell. Caldwell is a naturalist that guides tours at Lake Hodges and said water level changes nesting.
For years, pairs of grebes would zoom across the water at Lake Hodges in a dazzling mating dance, and then build their nests on mats of dried brush suspended above the waterline.
It’s a tough gig being a western grebe during this water bird’s courtship season. To get noticed these birds must literally walk on water.
This elaborate courtship ritual, known as rushing, is now happening at Lake Hodges near Escondido where huge numbers of Clark’s and western grebes flock during the winter and spring breeding season.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
