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Nesting grebes

A pair of Slavonian grebes has begun nest building on Loch Ruthven. The nest is made from material collected by the birds by diving to the floor of the loch, and it is built among the sedges and reeds at the edge of the loch. The top surface of the nest is just above the water鈥檚 surface, both birds working very hard to keep it afloat. Many of the birds have been studied for numerous years, and have rings on their legs allowing researchers to denote the difference between the male and the female birds. Part of the courtship between grebes means the females sometimes mock mate with the male, so it helps to have the rings to work out which is which!

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