Breeding colonially in shallow lakes and ponds throughout the western provinces, the Eared Grebe is the world’s most abundant grebe (Cullen et al. 1999). Results from the Christmas Bird Count show little overall change in the North American population. The population status specific to the Canadian portion of the population remains uncertain, but is thought to have shown little change since 1970. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Although specific threats remain largely unknown, their concentration into large flocks throughout the year leaves Eared Grebes vulnerable to stochastic events. In the fall, the majority of Eared Grebes stage and moult at Mono Lake, in California, and Great Salt Lake, in Utah (Boyd and Jehl, Jr 1998). In recent years, there appears to have been a shift from Mono to Great Salt Lake. This shift has corresponded to several years of draught conditions in the Sierra Nevadas and lower fresh water input to Mono Lake, which has resulted in lower lake levels, increased salinity, and ultimately lower brine shrimp densities. Eared Grebes forage almost exclusively on brine shrimp; this could be why the number on Mono Lake has declined to historically low levels compared to Great Salt Lake, which now supports historically high numbers (S. Boyd, ECCC, pers. comm.). Collisions and mass landings of densely aggregated staging migrants attracted to lights may represent an important cause of mortality (Ellis et al. 2016), while disease outbreaks, food shortages or climatic fluctuations can also cause sudden and dramatic die-offs (Cullen et al. 1999). Loss of wetland habitat from agricultural development and recreational disturbance of nesting sites likely further reduce nesting success (Cullen et al. 1999).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
