Friends, these two adult pied billed grebes are feeding five youngsters and are working hard to keep up with their appetites. These birds are pretty small weighing less than a pound and getting close to them is a rare occasion.   The chicks are very colorful and the adults often leave them perched in among the lily pads while they dive for underwater food.  This is a family portrait taken late in the afternoon when i like to visit with them.  I spent about two hours sitting by Phantom Lake in Crex Meadows and these images were gleaned from the 400 digital images that i shot, thank goodness it wasn’t film, it would have cost a fortune.  til Tomorrow MJ