Dippers

I remember the first time I saw a dipper. I was standing on the bridge near Cameron Falls (I've always liked that name) in Waterton when I noticed a strange bird on a rock below me. Not overly large, it was a drab gray bird with a rather short tail and beak. It also had a distinctive white eye ring and yellow legs. It's feet weren't webbed and this would amaze me as I watched it further. It had the curious habit of continually bobbing up and down while it stood, reminding me of that most hated of climbers maladies known as sewing machine leg. At first glance, it isn't very striking but take a few minutes to watch it's antics and you'll quickly join the ranks of the dipper lovers.

As I stood on the bridge, it suddenly dove into the clear, fast stream and began swimming upstream against the current looking for small aquatic insect larvae, tiny fish or snails. This was especially impressive considering it's lack of webbing between it's toes. As I carefully studied it as it moved below me it became obvious that it literally flew underwater using its wings to propel it against the swiftest of currents. Mesmerized, I found myself watching it for the longest time. Before long, quite an audience had gathered.

When spooked, it flies along the stream just above the water and issues a trill call. Well camouflaged with it's gray colour, it quickly seems to disappear among the similarly coloured rocks.

Come autumn, when most sensible birds are planning their winter forays to warmer climes, the dipper calmly bobs and watches it's neighbours head south. It will remain throughout the winter feeding in whatever open water it can find. Enormous oil glands help keep the feathers waterproofed and if you were to see it along some of our snow covered rivers, you may understand it's bobbing behaviour. It gives the impression that it's just trying to stay warm. In the spring, like most birds, thoughts turn to mating. They are related to robins and wrens and actually build a domed nest in the rocks above the river and often behind water falls. In a few areas, although it hasn't been seen in the immediate area, dippers have been seen to take advantage of bridge pilings for building nests--like many birds, they've begun to adapt to the changes man has made to the environment. The eggs hatch and the young will be flying underwater even before they master the aerial variety.