How do both parent grebes care for eggs and young?

Both parent grebes play an active and shared role in the care of their eggs and young. Their involvement begins with the construction of floating nests made of aquatic vegetation, where they lay their eggs. During the incubation period, which typically lasts three to four weeks, both parents share the responsibility of protecting the eggs. When leaving the nest, adults often cover the eggs with soggy nest material to keep them hidden and protected.1

Once the young hatch, the parents continue to provide significant care. The small chicks frequently spend much of their time riding on the backs of their swimming parents, reaching this position by clambering up an adult’s foot. Additionally, adult grebes feed feathers to their young shortly after hatching; these feathers form a plug in the stomach that helps the chicks filter material as they digest their food.1