Nature Canada

Bird Tweet of the Week: Horned Grebe

In addition to having folk names such as “Devil Diver” and “Water Witch”, the Horned Grebe has the strange habit of snacking on its own feathers. It does this to create a mass in its stomach that’s thought to entangle fish bones as the bird eats, allowing them to stay in the stomach longer to more fully digest. Yum!

photo horned grebe

Horned grebe photo by Chris O’Donoghue

Each week we introduce a new bird from the Ottawa-Gatineau area through our segment on CBC Radio’s In Town and Out. Alex MacDonald, Nature Canada’s Manager of Protected Areas, shares interesting facts about the birds that live in our communities. Be sure to tune-in to “Bird Tweet of the Week” on CBC Radio One 91.5 FM on Saturday mornings from 6am to 9am and listen to past episodes on our website.

This episode aired on Saturday November 29, 2014

Want to Help?

Canada’s wilderness is the world’s envy. It’s our duty to keep our true north strong and green.

Donate