The Australasian Little Grebe Poem by Francis Duggan

There is a bird they call the little grebe
The smallest member of grebe family
She lives on inland lake or near sea shore
But on dry land her i have yet to see.

Her mate at breeding time wears darker coat
Whilst she all year round wear the lighter gray
I've oft times watched them ride the ocean waves
When tide was roaring into Blackrock bay.

Aquatic birds the water is their home
And a water world the only world they've known
I've seen them in groups of three right up to twelve
I've seen them in pairs and oft seen one alone.

I've oft times watched grebe on birds paddock lake
I've watched her swim a bit and dive for prey
A minute under water maybe more
And then she surface a few yards away.

She builds her nest a mass of water reeds
And three to seven palish eggs she lay
The Australasian grebe the smallest of her race
On inland lake and estuary and bay.