The Red-necked Grebe is a migratory aquatic bird that is found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes. Grebes prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites. A nondescript dusky-grey bird in winter, it acquires the distinctive red neck, black cap and contrasting pale grey face from which its name is derived during the breeding season. It also has an elaborate courtship display and a variety of loud mating calls. Once paired, it builds a nest from water plants on top of floating vegetation in a shallow lake or bog.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-necked_Grebe

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1680:

Several pueblos of Pueblo Indians captured the town of Santa Fe in Nuevo México. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueblo_Revolt

1858:

The first of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, candidates for an Illinois seat in the United States Senate, was held in Ottawa, Illinois. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln-Douglas_debates_of_1858

1911:

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre by a museum employee and was not recovered until two years later. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa

1944:

World War II: A combined Canadian–Polish force captured the strategically important town of Falaise, France, in the final offensive of the Battle of Normandy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tractable

2007:

Hurricane Dean made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 5 storm, causing 45 deaths and US$1.5 billion in damage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Dean

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

fatiloquent (adj): Speaking of fate; portentous, prophetic http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fatiloquent

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The night was long and dark and just

Another dagger to my trust. I thrust it in until I bleed I wiped my point for you to see.

And anyway, It's over now. Nothing left to say. I don't know why,

I don't care how, It's over anyway. --Alicia Witt http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alicia_Witt