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>
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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>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
fatiloquent (adj):
Speaking of fate; portentous, prophetic
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fatiloquent>
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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>
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