It is early morning, the world is still in the twilight. For a nature photographer, there is hardly anything better than being at the lake at this time of year. Kneeling on the damp shore and finally lying flat on my stomach, the dew creeps through my clothes. The still lake lies before me like a mirror, kissed by the first golden sunlight. Not a breath of wind ripples the surface. In this calm, two small, dark silhouettes suddenly emerge from the reeds: black-necked grebes with their chicks on their backs.
A black-necked grebe carries its two young on its back.
I hold my breath. Slowly, I bring my camera into position, the telephoto lens aligned with the surface of the water. The scene feels almost surreal—intimate and magical, as if I’ve been allowed to witness a secret moment. The black-necked grebe parents glide silently across the shimmering water, their glowing red eyes reflecting the morning light like tiny rubies. On the back of one parent, two fluffy chicks snuggle safely and warmly into the feathers. This quiet family idyll at dawn touches me deeply. At the same time, the heart of the bird photographer in me pounds with excitement: moments like this can only be captured with patience, respect, and perfect timing.
As I press the shutter, I find myself reflecting on these fascinating birds. What makes the black-necked grebe so special? How do they live, where can they be found—and why do they carry their young on their backs?
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The black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) belongs to the grebe family and is a rather small water bird: only about 28-34 cm tall when fully grown. This makes it smaller than a coot, for example, but larger than the little grebe. In its magnificent wedding dress, the black-necked grebe wears a striking plumage: the neck and head are deep black, the flanks bright chestnut-brown, and tufted feathers in golden yellow shine behind the eyes. The eyes are particularly striking – bright red like tiny rubies that immediately catch the eye. No wonder photographers love this detail. (Nobody needs a red-eye filter here – more on that later!) Incidentally, males and females look the same; there are hardly any gender differences in the plumage.
Black-necked Grebes are also elegant outside the mating season, in their so-called plain plumage, albeit with a simpler coloration: then the head and neck are rather grey-brown and the golden ear tufts are missing, but the red eyes remain an unmistakable distinguishing feature. Their narrow, pointed bill is slightly curved upwards and emphasizes the graceful profile of this diving bird. Black-necked Grebes are often seen floating on the water in small groups or diving energetically for food. Their diet consists mainly of insects and small aquatic creatures such as crustaceans, snails, tadpoles and small fish. They skillfully dive again and again – usually for less than 30 seconds at a time – and search for prey under water. Between dives, they sometimes only stick their head and neck out of the water to look for prey before diving again.
As enchanting as their appearance is, black-necked grebes are reserved in their voice. In the early breeding season, you may be lucky enough to hear a soft, pressed “pücht” or a thin “huit”. These calls are part of the divers’ mating repertoire and are presumably used for pair bonding and territory demarcation. Overall, the vocalizations are rather inconspicuous – no shrill cries, but soft sounds that are almost drowned out by the dense shoreline vegetation. Outside of courtship and in winter, black-necked grebes are usually silent.
Breeding biology: nest building, chicks and family life
Black-necked grebes mating in spring
Black-necked grebes are skillful builders. Their nest is a floating construction made of plant parts that they anchor in shallow water – often on reed stems or other aquatic plants. Both parents take part in building the nest. The breeding season usually begins in April; as short-distance migrants, they return from their wintering grounds to their breeding grounds from the beginning of April. The nest is well hidden in the dense shoreline vegetation of shallow lakes or ponds, as rich shoreline vegetation is important for successful breeding. Sometimes black-necked grebes also use small, shallow islands as nesting sites, but more often the nest floats in the reed belt. The clutch usually consists of 3-4 (up to 5) eggs, which are incubated by both parents for around 21-24 days. Freshly laid, the eggs are bluish-white, but quickly turn brownish due to the wet plants in the nest.
As soon as the chicks hatch, they leave the nest surprisingly quickly – often on the same day when the last chick is dry. The young are nest fledglings: they can swim and even dive right from the start. Nevertheless, black-necked grebe chicks are carried on their parents “backs like little passengers in the first few weeks of their lives. This behavior is not only heart-warming to watch, but also has a biological purpose. On the one hand, the fluffy young are well protected from predators on their parents” backs and do not cool down so quickly. Secondly, the parents can walk long distances across the lake with their young without the chicks tiring or lagging behind. Only after a few days to a few weeks do the chicks move into the “tow” behind the parents and begin to swim short distances on their own.
Habitat and distribution
Where can you see black-necked grebes in the wild? These birds are picky: they prefer shallow inland waters with lush vegetation, well vegetated banks and many underwater plants Typical habitats are nutrient-rich ponds, shallow lakes or ponds – including managed fish ponds if they offer enough peace and quiet. It is important that there are enough open water areas for hunting, as well as sufficient reeds and floating leaf plants for hiding and nesting places.
In some regions, the black-necked grebe even breeds in slow-flowing oxbow lakes or bogs. The optimum water depth for the nesting zone is only 40-80 cm, so that the birds can easily anchor the nest from the bottom of the water. The distribution of this species is unusually patchy. Worldwide, the black-necked grebe occurs in several widely separated regions: in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. In Europe, it is mainly found in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Germany and Poland are the main areas of distribution in Central Europe. It is estimated that only around 900-1,100 pairs breed in Germany – not a large population when you consider that there are over one and a half million pairs in North America.
However, there are regional differences within Germany: the largest populations are found in the north, for example in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where many shallow lakes and ponds provide habitats. Lake Lanker in Schleswig-Holstein is home to the largest black-necked grebe colony in Central Europe, with around 250 breeding pairs. There are also local populations in Brandenburg, on Lake Constance and in some Bavarian pond areas (such as the Ismaninger Teichgebiet or around Lake Chiemsee). These are often small colonies, sometimes even associated with black-headed gulls or common terns, which apparently offer the divers protection. Outside of the breeding season, black-necked grebes are short-distance migrants and usually do not travel too far. Many Central European birds spend the winter on the coasts of Western Europe – from the Netherlands to the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean. North Africa and the Middle East are also important wintering grounds. Some even stay in Central Europe during mild winters and are then more likely to be found on larger lakes or reservoirs.
Hazards and special challenges
As enchanting as the black-necked grebe is to look at, its population is fragile in some places. In Germany, it is on the Red List and is classified as “endangered” (category 3). This means that the species is exposed to considerable risks in our country. One of the main problems is the low number of suitable breeding waters: Many former habitats have been lost due to drainage, intensive fishing or siltation. Black-necked grebes are also extremely sensitive to disturbance – recreational activities such as swimming, water sports or noisy shore visitors can cause the shy birds to abandon their breeding sites. In the first few days after hatching, parents are particularly sensitive; if boats or people come too close, for example, the adults may no longer warm or feed their chicks sufficiently. The offspring are then endangered by hypothermia or predators, which is why it is so important to protect places where black-necked grebes breed and minimize disturbance.
Black-necked grebes need shallow waters with a sufficient supply of food, which are unfortunately becoming increasingly rare.
Another factor is the water quality and food supply. As fish pond inhabitants, divers compete for food with commercial fish farming in some places. Intensive carp farming, for example, can change the water turbidity and nutrient content to such an extent that insect larvae – the divers’ main food – become rarer. Fluctuating water levels also affect breeding: levels that are too high or too low in spring can make many nests unusable.
Interestingly, black-necked grebes react very flexibly to such changes: they tend to simply move on and colonize new waters when conditions are unfavourable. In some years, sudden increases or declines have therefore been observed in certain lakes, and where new protected areas or shallow water zones have been created, success has been rapid in some cases – for example, the breeding population has increased again in newly created floodplains in northern Germany.
Fortunately, the black-necked grebe is not globally threatened with extinction – the IUCN lists it as “Least Concern” (not endangered) worldwide. But regionally, especially in Central Europe, these enchanting birds deserve our full attention. Each of us nature lovers can contribute to this: through considerate behavior in the breeding areas and by supporting conservation projects. If we remain quiet and respectful at the lake (as I did that morning), we can enjoy these intimate moments in nature without disturbing the animals.
Tips for bird photography: photographing black-necked grebes
To wrap up, I’d like to share a few tips from my own experience in nature photography—especially bird photography—in case you ever want to photograph black-necked grebes or other water birds yourself. These tips will help you capture respectful yet striking images:
Get up early: The early hours of the morning are ideal for nature photography. In the soft light of the rising sun, the colors – such as the red of the diver’s eyes – shine particularly beautifully, and the waters are usually calm and smooth. In addition, many birds are most active at sunrise and there are fewer people around (an important advantage for shy species!).
Get down to eye level: Perspective is everything in bird photography. If possible, lie flat on the ground at the water’s edge or use a ground pod to position yourself at the same height as the birds. This creates an intimate point of view, with the subject beautifully isolated and the surroundings melting into a soft bokeh. Your images will instantly feel more atmospheric than if taken from above. (Tip: A sleeping pad or a beanbag can help keep both your camera and yourself stable and dry.)
Ruhe bewahren und tarnen: Schwarzhalstaucher sind sehr wachsam. Jede hastige Bewegung oder laute Geräusche können sie verscheuchen. Bewege dich langsam und leise, am besten geduckt oder kriechend, wenn du in Position gehst. Eine Tarnkleidung oder ein Tarnnetz kann zusätzlich helfen, mit der Umgebung zu verschmelzen. Warten Sie lieber ab, bis die Vögel von selbst näher kommen. Geduld und Respekt für das Tier stehen immer über dem perfekten Foto – Störung muss vermieden werden, vor allem in der Brutzeit. Tipps zur richtigen Tarnung gibt es hier!
Long focal length with wide aperture: For striking bird photos, a telephoto lens (at least 300 mm or more) is highly recommended. It allows you to keep a respectful distance while still capturing the birds full-frame. Use a wide aperture (low f-number) to reduce depth of field—this makes the bird stand out sharply against a soft, blurred background. Many photographers also rely on burst mode to catch the perfect moment in a sequence of movements—like when a grebe lifts its head from the water.
For beginners: Practice and observe: Don’t get discouraged if things don’t work out right away—bird photography takes time and practice. Spend time observing animal behavior—the more you understand your subject’s habits, the better you’ll be at anticipating what comes next. Start with common species or visit bird parks to get used to focusing on moving subjects. Learn to recognize those special moments when a bird does something interesting—whether it’s preening, stretching its wings, or feeding its chicks. This kind of timing often makes the difference between an average photo and a great one.
Fokus auf die Augen – und keine Sorge wegen „roter Augen“: Bei Tierporträts gilt die goldene Regel: immer auf das Auge fokussieren. Scharfe Augen ziehen den Betrachter magisch an.
With these tips and a little luck, anyone can capture unforgettable moments with their camera. Whether it’s an intimate family idyll at sunrise or a dynamic diving scene at midday – nature photography rewards patience and passion. The magical morning with the black-necked divers showed me once again how important patience and knowledge of the species are. When emotionality and expertise come together, the result is not only better photos, but also a deeper understanding of nature.
Early morning at the lake – the world is still in twilight. Two small silhouettes glide silently over the water: black-necked grebes with their chicks on their backs. An intimate insight into the life of these fascinating birds, wonderful for bird photographers and nature lovers.
If you want to photograph animals, you have to understand them. Only with knowledge of the species can you take pictures that are more than just snapshots. It’s about respect, closeness and a deep understanding of the life in front of the lens – because this is the only way to create images that are authentic and unforgettable.
The blue nudibranch and the green earthworm are among the most colorful, but mostly overlooked inhabitants of our forests. For nature photographers, it is worth looking down – because often the special things are hidden exactly where no one is looking.
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