Western Grebe

Aechmophorous occidentalis Sun-setting spear-bearer On any one of his long-strided walks near the Mandan settlement that first fall, Meriwether Lewis encountered all manner of shorebirds and ducks plying the sloughs. Naturalist, explorer, he shot one of each. Taxidermist, he sent specimens back East. Diarist, he described each one shot to the last pinfeather.   I […]