It's impossible not to notice it, with its red and black mane and long, streamlined body, the great crested grebe has been named after it. With its surprising agility, it has the ideal anatomy for diving and can reach depths of up to 5 metres to find fish, molluscs and crustaceans to its liking. A short-distance migrant or sedentary, the species is present all year round on the shores of Lake Geneva. More discreet in winter with its internuptial plumage, when the cold weather arrives the Great Crested Grebe moves away from the banks and into the open sea, where fish are more abundant and predators absent.
Unlike most waterbirds, the female and male wear the same plumage. But don't think that they wear this magnificent garment all year round; they only bring out their wedding finery at the start of their courtship. And there's plenty of reason to get dressed up, because the parade of Europe's largest grebe is a memorable one. Standing neck to neck, they begin their dance by nodding their heads in salute, before finally diving in unison and emerging with beaks laden with aquatic plants, a mutual offering that will seal their union. This union gives birth to young chicks that bear little resemblance to their parents, with their black and white zebra stripes. They quickly leave the nest, taking refuge in the feathers on their mother's or father's back. This same characteristic is found in the two other grebes that nest in Lake Geneva, the Castagne Grebe and the Black-necked Grebe.
Although relatively common on the lake today, the great crested grebe has not always enjoyed the best of times. Highly prized for its feathers and considered a pest in the last century, it fell victim to intensive hunting. The creation of protected areas such as Grangettes and Pointe-à-la-bise has greatly contributed to its emancipation.
Information taken from the guide Oiseaux du Léman by Stéphane Corcelle and Mathieu Binand, Guide de Poche Rossolis, 2011
Crédit photo: ©Kai Taimsalu
