Pied-billed Grebe & Chicks

Pied-billed Grebes are small diving birds that can be found year round at the wetlands. They enjoy feeding on small fish and amphibians. Pied-billed grebe chicks often leave the nest quickly, sometimes as soon as one day. As they do not swim well at first, young chicks can be seen hitching a ride on the back one their parents. The chicks seen on this day (last year) were most likely a few weeks old and were learning to forage on their own.

Pied-billed Grebe
Viera Wetlands 

Black-crowned Night Heron

I came across a bird I haven't seen in quite some time at the Viera Wetlands yesterday morning. The Black-crowned Night Heron, typically most active in the evening, is most often found foraging for prey in the reeds along the edge of the water. This heron was soaking up some rays after the previous night's cold front significantly dropped the temperature.

Black-crowned Night Heron
Viera Wetlands

Here are a few others I've seen this week.

Canvasback and Ring-necked Ducks
Viera Wetlands

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Blue Heron Wetlands

Pied-billed Grebe
Blue Heron Wetlands