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Grebes 177

tube has reached the commissure. Keep the neck extended to avoid reflux as you deliver the con-
tents of the feeding syringe. If the tube is not luer locked in place, it is helpful to hold the tube–
syringe junction, to avoid accidental separation as you put pressure on the plunger. Carefully
watch the throat, and at any sign of upwelling (reflux) of food, immediately cease feeding. In this
case or when the syringe is empty, gently remove the tube. If reflux should occur, immediately
release the bird and allow it to clear its oral cavity on its own.

Force-feeding
Carefully insert a fingernail between the upper and lower beak near the base or at the tip and then
slide it to the base and open the mouth from a point near the face. Place small insects, fish, or sliv-
ers of fish in the back of the mouth using a blunt‐tipped hemostat and allow the bird to swallow. If
not swallowing, gently close the beak, extend the neck, and stroke the neck downward to move the
food toward the stomach. Do not dirty the neck feathers with fishy fingers if doing this.

Fledglings

At the fledgling stage, healthy grebes should be self‐sufficient and becoming skilled at diving for food;
they should be fully feathered with their waterproofing intact. They will spend more time in the
water and should be allowed free access to a large pool with a haul‐out. Fledglings should be offered
as many live fish as possible, but will usually accept small, thawed frozen freshwater fish or slivers of
large fish of the correct size for their mouth. Take care that slivered fish does not contaminate water
or plumage with fish juices. Feathers should be continually available for ingestion until release. Food
should be provided to healthy fledglings three to four times per day during regular intervals during
daylight hours. Offering slightly more food than the fledgling can consume will ensure they are fed
to satiety. Some species of grebes may eat their own body weight in food per day during certain stages
of growth. If ravenous hunger is observed, increase the available food so that there is always more
than enough to ensure the chicks are getting plenty to accommodate a growth spurt.

­ Expected­Weight­Gain

There is no compiled information available about daily weight gain averages for grebes, only spe-
cies‐specific generalizations based on different geographical areas. The best approach is to make
sure that weight gains are observed and to use the body condition and behavior as a guide. If a
grebe is growing, active, and alert, appears generally healthy, and is offered as much food as it is
able to consume, it is likely to be growing at a normal rate. Grebes will vocalize their hunger, so this
too can help determine when more food should be provided. Body weights should be collected
daily to ensure the bird is gaining weight continuously and to give rehabilitators data toward estab-
lishing typical and normal patterns of growth, for different grebe species. Weight gain information
for small numbers of chicks in rehabilitation are shown in Figure 10.5.

­ Housing

Very young, sick, or injured grebes should be housed in a brooder, or a container with a heat source
that can be set to 86 °F (30 °C) with soft padding as a substrate. Feathers must be kept in pristine
condition, so bedding should be changed at least twice per day to keep the feathers from becoming
soiled. Grebes should be given ample opportunities to take short swims in water so they can