The Western Grebe is one of five grebes found in our coastal waters. We received this Western Grebe from a couple in Gold River. If was found on land and unable to take off. We’ve named this bird “Ruby” because a defining characteristic of the Western Grebe is its ruby coloured eyes.The Western Grebe feeds by diving under water to eat fish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic animals. Grebes are a water bird, and lack long tail feathers and actually steer themselves in the water (and in the air) with their large webbed feet. If a grebe accidently lands on land, it is almost impossible for them to gain flight. Wintering populations of the Western Grebe have declined by 44% between 2005 and 2010 putting them on the BC Conservation Data Centre’s “red list” which indicates probability of extinction.