Grebe chicks can swim within hours of hatching but they depend on their parents for food for almost three months. Three long months chicks parents will constantly feed them. That is a hard and exhausting job.
This time the male Grebe caught a big fish and he is going to feed it to his young.
The chick bends his head, his bill is open, it's easy this way to get fish. His parent watches carefully that fish wouldn't slip into the water.
Ahh, fish slipped into the water. The young chick and his dad certainly didn't expect it but mistakes happen.
There are only a few seconds that fish can be recovered out of water. Dad knows it and will dive trying to get fish.
This time fish was recovered and delivered to the chick who would hold it tight with his tiny bill.
At three weeks Grebe chicks are able to pursue fish but their fluffy down makes them slow and they often miss fish. At eight weeks, they have grown adult-like feathers and they are better at catching fish. At twelve weeks Grebe chicks are independent! They are able to fly and catch all of their own food.
Generally, life is good!
