An Albino Eared Grebe
An Albino Eared Grebe
On July 29, 1939, water birds were quite numerous on the salt pools at Dumbarton Bridge. On the last pool to the north as one approaches the bridge from the east, I noticed on that date a group of three Eared Grebes (Colymbus nigricollis californicus), one of which was almost pure white. On August 7 it was seen again in the same pool at closer range and on October 7 it was so close to the roadway that its rosy eye was easily seen. It was still with two normally plumaged birds somewhat separated from the large flocks that were feeding in the same pool. Since October 7, I have seen the albino grebe each time I have crossed the bridge, October 14, 21, November 18, 28, December 5, January 3, 1940, and February 10. One time it was near the center of a closely packed raft of more than two hundred Eared Grebes. Its continued presence in this same pool suggests that the flocks seen there each winter are probably sedentary during the season.
Amelia S. Allen
Berkeley, California, February 10, 1940
