Captured by the Lens of Chadi Saad, SPNL Homat Al Hima Activist and Manager of Hima Hammana Raptor Counting Site
Nestled in the heart of Ammiq Wetland, Lebanon’s last remaining freshwater marsh, a spectacular courtship and breeding ritual unfolded between April 1 and May 15, 2024. Two pairs of Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) took center stage in this mesmerizing display of love, devotion, and survival, all meticulously documented by Chadi Saad, a passionate conservationist and wildlife photographer.
Through hundreds of shots and tens of hours of observation, Chadi’s lens captured every intimate moment of this extraordinary avian love story—from elegant courtship dances to parental dedication in raising their young.
Step 1: The Courtship Dance – A Love Story Begins
The Great Crested Grebe is renowned for its elaborate courtship dance, one of the most spectacular in the bird kingdom. Males and females perform a synchronized ballet—stretching their necks, shaking their heads, and gliding across the water in perfect harmony.
Chadi’s images from early April 2024 reveal these stunning rituals in Ammiq Wetland, where the two pairs engaged in their breathtaking “mirror dance,” imitating each other’s movements with astonishing precision. At one point, they even rose out of the water, chest to chest, holding strands of aquatic plants in their beaks—a symbolic offering that cements their bond.
Step 2: Reed Gathering – Building the Perfect Nest
Once the pair is bonded, the next challenge begins: nest building. Unlike many birds that build on land or in trees, Great Crested Grebes construct floating nests made of reeds and aquatic vegetation.
Captured by Chadi’s patient lens, the grebes were seen carefully plucking reeds and herbs, carrying them in their beaks, and placing them in shallow water near dense vegetation. This floating platform not only provides security from land predators but also allows the birds to remain close to their aquatic hunting grounds.
Step 3: Egg Laying and Incubation – A Mother’s Devotion
By late April, the first eggs appeared. The female laid between three to five eggs, and the pair took turns incubating them. One of Chadi’s most captivating shots shows the mother tenderly covering her eggs with fresh plant material, camouflaging them from prying eyes.
During this period, the male remains ever vigilant, fiercely defending the nest from intruders, whether rival grebes or opportunistic predators like marsh harriers and crows.
Step 4: Fishing and Frogging – Providing for the Family
Great Crested Grebes are expert divers, and fishing is an essential part of their survival. In several breathtaking images, adult grebes are seen plunging beneath the water’s surface, emerging with freshly caught fish, amphibians, and aquatic insects.
One particularly dramatic sequence captures a male grebe catching a frog, shaking it vigorously before presenting it to his mate as an act of both courtship and nourishment. This behavior strengthens the bond between the pair, ensuring the female remains well-fed as she incubates their future chicks.
Step 5: Hatching – A New Generation is Born
By early May 2024, the eggs began to hatch. The tiny, striped chicks emerged, fragile but full of life. Unlike many other waterbirds, grebe chicks don’t stay in the nest for long—instead, they climb onto their parents’ backs almost immediately, hiding among their feathers for warmth and protection.
Some of Chadi’s most intimate shots show a mother grebe swimming gracefully across the water, her chicks nestled safely between her wings, peeking out from beneath their downy shelter.
Step 6: First Swims and Feeding – Learning to Survive
Though protected by their parents, the young grebes must quickly learn to fend for themselves. The male takes on the role of a dedicated teacher, demonstrating how to catch small fish and aquatic insects.
One unforgettable image captures a father grebe holding a tiny fish in his beak, encouraging his chick to take its first real meal. At first hesitant, the chick snaps up the offering, a crucial step toward self-sufficiency.
Step 7: Family Bonding – A Tale of Resilience
The final weeks of May 2024 saw the young grebes growing stronger, venturing further from their parents but always staying within reach of their watchful eyes. Chadi’s last series of images shows the beautiful family dynamic, with the parents still feeding, grooming, and protecting their chicks—a testament to the incredible dedication and resilience of this species.
Conservation and the Importance of Ammiq Wetland
The Great Crested Grebe’s successful breeding in Ammiq Wetland is a positive sign for Lebanon’s fragile freshwater ecosystems. As wetlands worldwide face threats from urban development, pollution, and climate change, preserving key habitats like Ammiq is more critical than ever.
Through the Hima approach, SPNL and dedicated conservationists like Chadi Saad continue to document, protect, and raise awareness about Lebanon’s avian biodiversity, ensuring that species like the Great Crested Grebe can thrive for generations to come.
A Love Story for the Ages
From courtship to chick-rearing, the Great Crested Grebes of Ammiq Wetland showcased one of the most beautiful avian love stories ever captured. Through hundreds of photographs and countless hours in the field, Chadi Saad immortalized this tale of devotion, resilience, and survival—a powerful reminder of why nature and conservation matter.
By supporting wetland protection efforts, we ensure that future generations can continue to witness the extraordinary dance of the Great Crested Grebe—one ripple at a time.
