The great crested grebe lives on rivers, lakes and estuaries but in Tasmania, are thought to breed only on Lake Dulverton near Oatlands. It is a large, long necked water bird up to 50 cm high. It has a grey to brown back with a white silky breast, long white neck and a long, pointed, straight bill. The brown coloured crest occurs in adults and is expanded for display. The species is nomadic for most of the year and may be seen singly or in small groups on large water bodies. Food is small fish, invertebrates or plants got by diving. Most flying is by night. Breeding is from November to March, nests are made of heaped floating vegetaion anchored to reeds or drooping branches.
Threats include degradation of wetlands by draining, pollution and weeds, drought and low levels in Lake Dulverton which affects breeding, and disturbance to the birds when nesting.
Source; Bryant, S. L. and Jackson, J. (1999). Tasmania’s Threatened Fauna Handbook. Threatened Species Unit, Parks and Wildlife Service, Hobart.
A complete species management profile is not currently available for this species. Check for further information on this page and any relevant Activity Advice.