Editor's note: "Hidden World of Birds in City" is about exploring a world of birds that usually goes unnoticed in urban spaces. This episode features photographs from Wang Xiaobo, who has been bird-watching near his residential community in Beijing for the past eight years.
Still remember the little grebe's family of three who settled in a pond this year in Wong's community? After a series of a crisis caused by fluctuating water levels over the past four months, the family's life has returned to normal.
According to Wang, the mother stayed with the two chicks until early July. Before her permanent departure, the two chicks have grown almost the same size as opposed to the evident difference in body size between them previously. About a month passed after their mother's leaving, and these two became interdependent on each other for survival.
Based on Wang's previous observation, the mother grebe would normally leave the chicks independently before the chicks are old enough to fly away. Wang said he saw some little grebe chicks stay in the pond until early November.
Watch the video below to see how these two grow up under the care and protection from their mother.
Meanwhile, the pond keeps attracting other bird species, this little egret is one of them. Wang said it has been seen hanging around the pond area for couple of days, which is a bit unusual because egrets are quite vigilant, they usually choose large water body to stay.
Little egret.
Little egret.
Little egret.
More from 'Hidden World of Birds in City':
Hidden World of Birds in City: Story of the little grebe's pond life
Hidden World of Birds in City: Moments to remember Part 2
Hidden World of Birds in City: Moments to remember Part 1
Hidden World of Birds in City: Hope for a better year
Hidden World of Birds in City: Small surprises in hot summer
Hidden World of Birds in City: Parenting
Hidden World of Birds in City: New life, new hope
Hidden World of Birds in City: Aiming to create a new record high
Hidden World of Birds in City: Peaks ended but migration lingers
Hidden World of Birds in City: New migration peak
Hidden World of Birds in City: Beauty captured on the way
Hidden World of Birds in City: Catching the train of late spring
Hidden World of Birds in City: Welcome back
Hidden World of Birds in City: Birds in blossom
Hidden World of Birds in City: A busy pond
Hidden World of Birds in City: Highlights
Hidden World of Birds in City: Air predators
Hidden World of Birds in City: Migratory birds
Hidden World of Birds in City: The birds awaken
(Video filmed and provided by Li Mei)
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