Simerg is an independent initiative dedicated to Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan — their Hereditary Imam — and the Ismaili Imamat, and Islam in general through literary readings, photo essays and artistic expressions
The boy tells the horse, “I can’t see a way through.” The horse asks: “Can you see your next step?” The boy replies, “Yes.” The horse responds, “Just take that.” — Read More
As a visitor to Jasper in the autumn of 2022, Malik Merchant was in an excellent position to compare scenes of the town then and his visit two years later, following the July 2024 Wildfire. His profoundly moving story and poignant photographs will captivate and inspire you. He relates tales of individuals he met in Jasper. The emotional impact of a young boy’s story, expressed through a drawing and a short dialogue with a horse, will surely touch your heart. Please click HERE or on the image below to learn Malik’s story and photographs.
On May 28, 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, performed the foundation ceremony of three projects: the Aga Khan Museum, the Ismaili Centre Toronto, and their Park. Just over four years later, on September 12, 2014, the Prime Minister and His Highness inaugurated the two iconic buildings — the Park was inaugurated in the spring of 2015 — which have become an intrinsic part of Toronto’s cultural landscape. These buildings, with their unparalleled architectural and artistic wonders, have captivated the hearts of thousands during the Toronto Doors Open, inspiring them to appreciate the beauty and creativity that went into their design. Click HERE or on the photo below for stories and photographs of this unique cultural landmark in Canada’s largest city.
The Aga Khan Museum, Wynford Drive, Toronto. The Ismaili Centre Toronto is directly across from the Museum, with the Aga Khan Park dividing the two iconic buildings built by His Highness the Aga Khan. Please click on the image for the story and photographs.
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The 10th anniversary of the Aga Khan Museum coincides with the 87th birthday of Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan. We honour the Prince through a special post. Please click HERE or on the photo below
Nature — and some of the best in the world — is so close to Calgary. But it need not be just nature. In Drumheller, we have a magnificent dinosaur museum — the Royal Tyrrell, where you are genuinely illuminated about Dinosaurs and the Universe! Banff’s Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies has beautifully curated permanent and temporary exhibits. The Banff Arts Centre is a must-visit place for its art gallery and learning programs, concerts in the theatre and the amphitheatre located by the MacLab Bistro, which serves excellent food with stunning views of the mountains. This past week, I enjoyed taking a friend from Ottawa to Drumheller, Banff National Park and the beautiful Aga Khan Garden, part of the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, near Edmonton. Please click HERE or on the Horsethief Canyon picture shown below for photographs of our trip.
Malik Merchant rejuvenates himself by visiting parks within the city of Calgary and on his day trips to the Kananaskis and Banff. His latest visit to Banff was on Friday, November 24, 2023. See his new pictures by clicking on the photo below or click WOW Moments in Banff. Also, visit his exciting and informative photoblog Simergphotos.
Larch trees along Alberta Hwy 12. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
What a beautiful tree the larch tree is all year round. In autumn, larches in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains put on a spectacular show as their needles turn from green to golden yellow. The foliage attracts thousands of visitors from within Alberta and around the world. Found mostly at higher elevations, it often requires some hiking to see the spectacular LARCH autumn show from close range. However, I came across planted larch trees in Calgary’s Baker and Confederation Parks, and a week ago at the University of Alberta’s Botanic Garden in Edmonton — the focus of my visit was the Aga Khan Garden, a gift to Alberta by His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. I might also note that I ran into large fields of larch trees as I took to Nordegg via Highways 12 and 11 (David Thompson Highway). Click Among the Larches to see my photos of foliage at the Aga Khan Garden. I also have other photo essays of my memorable trips to Alberta’s extraordinary parks and heritage sites and I invite you to see them on my beautiful photo blog.
Close-up, larch tree at Aga Khan Garden, University of Alberta Botanic Garden. Please click on image for autumn foliage photographs.
On Friday, September 22, 2023, Blackfoot Crossing, the Historic Site of the signing of Treat No. 7, held a special commemoration event to celebrate the 146th year of the signing with traditional activities that included drum beating and dancing by the children and youth of The Siksika People — also known as The Blackfoot. Malik Merchant drove down to the stunning site overlooking the Bow River. While he enjoyed the traditional activities as well as a BBQ lunch — all free on Commemoration Day — he was impressed and inspired by the exhibits in the beautifully curated museum dedicated to showcasing the history and culture of The Blackfoot.
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A traditional dance performance by a young child to the tune of traditional drum beating by children and youth of the Siksika Nation. Please click on image for full report and more photographs.
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A view of the valley and Bow River from Blackfoot Crossing’s lookout point. Please click on photo for full report and more photographs.
The Historical Park is just over an hours drive from Calgary and one cannot fail to admire and be impressed by the central building’s architecture that has tipis and tipi shaped structures incorporated into its design. The centre includes a cafeteria, a gift shop, a beautiful little theatre as well as an amphitheatre. The lookout point is 300 metres from the building and there is also a paved trail leading to see tipi tents and other interesting features of the area. Please click HERE or on the images below to view Malik’s full report and photographs. Also click Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park Website for more information about the unique heritage site. Plan a day to visit and learn about the history and culture of the Siksika First Nations People as well as to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings and easy trails for the entire family.
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A view of Blackfoot Crossings beautiful museum dedicated to the Siksika First Nations. Please click on photo for full report and more photographs.
For tourists from around the world as well as individuals and families living close to Canmore or Banff National Park, whether in Alberta or British Columbia, as well as those in “distant” cities like Edmonton — and Canadians DO love driving their cars — make it to Lake Minnewanka and Grassi Lakes during these last 7 days in August, before schools commence. With almost a full week of sunshine promised — and daytime highs in the mid to upper 20s — your children will love the trip to these amazing places and they will have a lot of fun including swimming and seeing wildlife! The loop drive to Minnewanka Lake would include stops at the beautiful Two Jake Lake, Johnson Lake and the Cascade Ponds. Near Canmore, you have the stunning Grassi Lakes, and the two separate 1.9km trails to the lakes from the parking area are easy to moderate.
Please click on the links LAKE MINNEWANKA and GRASSI LAKES — or on the images below — for full stories and photographs.
Big Horn Sheep near Two Jack Lake on the Lake Minnewanka loop drive. Please click on photograph for complete story and more beautiful photographs.
A view of the Upper Grassi Lake. Please click on photograph for complete story and more beautiful photographs.
Date posted: August 17, 2023. Last updated: August 24, 2023.
Editor’s note: This photo and video post that would normally appear in our photoblog Simergphotos is being published on our primary website Simerg, while we carry out essential upgrades to Simergphotos.
The author arrives at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE to the beautiful sight of two newborn grebettes to Red-necked Grebes, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
Readers should note that both the male and female Red-necked Grebes share in the incubation. During the many many hours I spent at the pond over the past week, I observed that the dominant partner in the incubation was the male, and I say that because I saw the male, which is slightly larger than the female, spend more time in the nest than his female partner.
The mom’s time was mainly spent in the water, always looking out for danger through her perceptive senses of hearing and eyesight. A constant threat was a nearby resident muskrat. When she became aware of its presence, she would immediately go underwater and swim toward the muskrat to make sure it changed its direction away from the nest. The mom, as per my observation, also gathered and fed the newborns as well as participated in the upkeep of the nest. However, her food offerings to her babies were not always accepted and she would wisely retreat.
Further to my sighting on July 22 of the first baby (henceforth also referred to as a grebette) this new post now reflects my two additional visits to the pond that took place on July 24, when I sighted two grebettes, and on July 26 when I saw three grebettes swimming with their parents in the middle of the pond, at least 125 metres from the nest. It appears to me that the nest with 1 more egg still remaining to be hatched has been abandoned.
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Nest abandoned (?) by the Red-necked Grebes with one unhatched egg following the birth of 3 grebettes between July 22-26, 2023 in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE; July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
I say this because the Red-necked Grebes never returned to the nest during my 2 hour stay at the pond. I tried to capture a video and photographs of the far-away Grebes and their babies as best as I could with the 40-150 mm lens on my Olympus camera.
Enjoy the photos from my visits to this great pond on Country Hills Blvd in NE Calgary. Of course, I shall be returning to the pond to see the grebettes in the coming days, as I have been told that they continue to ride on their parents backs for the first two weeks of their lives. From time to time, they are given the opportunity to swim by their parents side. The male parent literally flips them into the water as you will see in some of the videos. The male, I noted, exerted his authority over the family quite firmly, while at the same time being warm to his babies and showing deep attachment and love to his female partner. He was also a great educator, as you will see in one of the videos, where he appears to be instructing his baby on how to take care of the nest! I think that was amazing. There are a couple of yawns from the little baby as he was watching his father’s demonstration. Didn’t we all when we were children and even more so later in life as we began taking serious classes?
July 24th, 2023: Photographs and Videos of Red-necked Grebes and their Babies at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE
Two unhatched eggs in the Red-necked Grebes’ nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe incubating the two remaining eggs in his nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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Non-threatening ducks pass by and the female Red-necked Grebe at right ensures they are away from her nest where her male partner is incubating 2 eggs in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe is beautifully reflected in the calm waters of a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe incubates the two remaining eggs in his nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The new Red-necked Grebe family of four, with 2 eggs still to hatch, next to their drenched nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The mom Red-necked Grebe offers food to her newborn grebettes as they have their heads out from the their dad’s wings in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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A series of 4 related photographs and a video
As mentioned earlier, the incubation of eggs in the Grebe family is shared between the male and female. This series of 4 photographs and the video after encapsulate the transition of incubation from the male Red-necked Grebe to his female partner.
The male stands up in the nest and decides to return to the water. The female prepares to take over the incubation process. She has one of her new-born grebettes swimming in front of her, while carrying the second newborn baby on her back — it is partially visible in this photo but fully visible in the next photo. Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe wades into the pond as his family watches, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe arrives with her babies at the nest to assume her incubation role in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe with her baby on her back leaps onto the nest and does some house keeping on the nest, while the second grebette is still in the Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
VIDEO 1 (This is a sequel to the 4 preceding photos)
DESCRIPTION: The following video below is a fantastic conclusion to the sequence of 4 photos shown above of the incubation transition from the male Red-necked Grebe to his female partner
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 2/13
DESCRIPTION: In this extremely short video, the mom arrives at the nest to feed her new-born grebette and returns to the pond to get some more nourishment
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 3/13
DESCRIPTION: In this interesting video, we see the female Red-necked Grebe returning to the nest, carefully jumping onto its edge, taking great care to organize it before gracefully sitting on her unhatched eggs.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 4/13
DESCRIPTION: In this video, the mother fails in her attempt to feed her babies, and retreats. The 2 new born grebettes are being playful by their father’s tail. Once the tail wind opens, they slide into it and one of the babies is then seen emerging on centre of his back.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 5/13
DESCRIPTION: In this cute video, the new born gribette decides to have some fun with its mother by pushing against her such in such a way that she moves in a clockwise direction. Seemingly, the baby having been well nourished, appears to have gained enough strength to become playful since its birth in the last 48 hours.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 6/13
DESCRIPTION: In this extraordinary video, we see one bregette on the back of its mom, while the second one swims beside her. The male Red-necked Grebe decides to leave the nest where he was incubating the remaining 2 eggs. The mom then takes over the incubation duty after carrying out some nest maintenance. The bregettes who were with the mom join their dad for some play time. One easily slides into his wing while the second one has a hard time and continues with its struggle
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 8/13
DESCRIPTION: In this incredible short video, I capture the first and only instance I hear the cries of the Red-necked Grebes during my entire period at the pond. Unfortunately my camera shook and the remaining video had to be edited out.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 9/13
DESCRIPTION: In this very short video, we see the female Red-necked Grebe bathing while her male partner has the two grebettes, one on the back and the second at the end of his tail.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 10/13
DESCRIPTION: In this amazing video, we see the mom Red-necked Grebe suddenly appear by the nest. First, she looks around for any signs of danger and then she performs some maintenance on the nest before elegantly sitting down on the eggs for more incubation.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 11/13
DESCRIPTION: In this stunning video, we see the male Red-necked Grebe swimming with his two new born grebettes towards the nest. The female, who is left a little bit behind, catches up with him as he reaches the nest and she begins to feed her babies while they are still with the male. The male then suddenly flips his two babies into the water as he climbs onto the nest. He then commences his incubation duty, but not before performing some maintenance on the nest. The female assists in the nest maintenance. The grebettes are then playful with their mom before she finally accepts them under her wing, which she folds down for their protection.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
VIDEO 12/13
DESCRIPTION: In this last video taken late in the afternoon on July 24, we appear to see the beautiful and caring parents provide a 45 second lesson on nest upkeeping to one of their new-born grebettes. After the demonstration is over, the father lets the grebette slide underneath his wing for a a well-deserved rest! Gribettes spend their first two weeks or so on the backs of their parents and I would guess they are taught about life’s duties just as any other living thing
Red-necked Grebes Bring Their Baby Gribettes into the World, July 24, 2023, Video by Malik Merchant.
July 24, 2023, Photograph of the Day: Thanking the Maker of the Heavens and the Earth
Red-necked Grebe after the birth of 2 grebettes in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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July 26, 2023: The Red-necked Grebe Family of 5 and Other Wildlife at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE,
Wildlife, ducks, in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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Wildlife, large water birds, in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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VIDEO 13/13
DESCRIPTION: In this video, we see the new Red-necked Grebe family of 5 in the middle of the pond, about 125 metres from the location of their nest where one egg remains unhatched. There is a grebette already swimming in the water and in a few moments we see the male flip his 2 babies that were in his wings into the water.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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The Beautiful New Red-necked Grebe Family
A beautiful new Red-necked Grebe family of 5, with 3 newborn grebettes riding on the back of their dad in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
Date posted: July 27, 2023.
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Malik Merchant’s recent walk around a Calgary pond led him to a floating nest built by a pair of beautiful Red-necked Grebes. Two days later, one egg out of four hatched and Malik saw the new born grebette’s first day of life in the new world. Below is one of four videos that he took. To see Malik’s collection of photographs and more videos of his stunning day at the pond, please visit his beautiful PHOTOBLOG.
For more stunning videos and photographs please click HERE
Simergphotos, a sister website of Simerg, is dedicated to photographs. Since his relocation to Alberta from Ontario, Malik has visited a number of Alberta’s magnificent national and provincial parks. Here are a few of his many pieces:
Kananaskis Country is my second home; so thrilling and beautiful that I like to escape to it frequently. I love the beautiful nature, the mountains and the wildlife. I also love being a spectator — to watch others enjoy in activities that give them thrill and excitement and makes others say “WOW”. My latest outing was to Canoe Meadows and Widow Maker Trail by the Kananaskis River. Here are my photographs and videos from a spectacular day. I have seen more wildlife here than in any other provincial or national park in Alberta. Please click KANANASKIS or on the photo below. I strongly urge you to visit this beautiful part of Canada!
Please click on image for spectacular videos and photographs.
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 