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Common NamePied-billed Grebe
Scientific Name, Podilymbus podiceps
Type of ReportRare Nesting Species
Date of Observation06/29/2022
MediaMedia
Number Observed2
Reporting Observer's NameJohn Jose
Mailing Address137 Barre Street
Apt 2
Montpelier, VT 05602
United States
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EmailEmail hidden; Javascript is required.
Date Completed12/27/2022
Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide)44.324292
Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide)- 72.500573°
Place NameSodom Pond
TownshipEast Montpelier
CountyWashington
Time of Day06:00 PM
Length of Time Observed1 hr
Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet)400
Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet)400
Optical Equipment Used for Observation

Celestron Nature DX 8x42 binoculars and Bushnell Spacemaster 15-45 x 60mm spotting scope.

Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species

Observed this species in 2020, 2021, and 2022 on this pond and nearby Adamant Pond.

I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event​​.
Description of Habitat

Sodom Pond is A 27.9-acre pond (as per VT DEC "Lakes Greater than 10 Acres" list). Includes portions of open water, potions supporting emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation, as well as small "islands" (shallow areas supporting aquatic plants that appear as small raised areas of the pond when the aquatic vegetation dies back in the fall), and immediately adjacent wetland habitats (occurring primarily on the western side of the pond).
Sodom Pond Road runs along the eastern shore and the northern end of the pond. There are no houses or other significant structures of human-origin located immediately on the shore of the pond. Houses and other structures that do occur within proximity to the pond are located along the upper portions of the north end of the pond, are separated from the pond by Sodom Pond Road and forested, wetland, and field habitats, and occur no closer than ~ 150-ft to the pond. The majority of the pond lies within the town East Montpelier, but the extreme norther end of the pond lies within the town of Calais.
This pond is the result of a beaver dam at its southern terminus. The stream that appears to be the primary source of surface water to the pond drains Adamant Pond, located to the north, and flows through the village of Adamant (located northwest of the northern terminus of the pond), before entering the north end of Sodom Pond.

Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation

Adults on nest, incubating eggs.

IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different?

Distinctive black stripe running perpendicular to the long axis of the relatively short, compact, gray-colored mandibles used to identify the adults of this species and to rule out other similar waterfowl that might occur (e.g. female hooded mergansers).

Other Notes & Comments

Based on my observations of PBGRs on Sodom Pond during the 2022 nesting season and through the fall, one brood of chicks was produced in the spring and at least one mid-summer brood (referenced in this report), and possibly a second, was produced, for a total two, possibly three broods, on this pond in 2022.

This report was written from notes taken:Written from Memory