White-tailed Ptarmigan

One of only a few species that breeds exclusively in the alpine tundra, the White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) is a highly sought after bird for many visitors to the Rocky Mountains.  Unlike the other species of Lagopus, the Willow and Rock Ptarmigans which have a circumpolar distribution, the White-tailed Ptarmigan is restricted to North America.  Thought to have diverged from the Rock Ptarmigan after being isolated during the Ice Age, the White-tailed Ptarmigan is similar in many respects to other ptarmigan, with cryptic plumage appropriate for each season, being pure snowy white in the winter, and mottled brown, gray, and white during the summer (Braun et al. 1993).

White-tailed Ptarmigan (male)
Rocky Mountain National Park, Laramier County, CO (June 2013)

 The White-tailed Ptarmigan has the most southerly distribution of any of the ptarmigan in North America (Rock Ptarmigan gets at least as far south in Japan), with their native range reaching as far south as the mountains of northern New Mexico.  Found in alpine habitats at or above treeline, White-tailed Ptarmigan can be found in areas with stunted willows, sedge meadows, and other alpine habtiats (Braun et al. 1993)  They are widely distributed across alpine tundra habitat in Colorado, and are also found in southwestern Montana and the Cascades of Washington.  Ptarmigan have also been introduced into mountains in northern Utah, the Sierra Nevada in California, and the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon.  However, despite this extensive range throughout the Rocky Mountains, White-tailed Ptarmigan are strangely absent from Wyoming.  A range map shows a large gap in their distribution in Wyoming.  Why is this the case?  Have they always been absent?

White-tailed Ptarmigan (male)

White-tailed Ptarmigan (female)
Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, CO (June 2013)

A bit of research into the history of this species reveals that White-tailed Ptarmigan used to be found in the Snowy Range, just outside of Laramie.  Regular reports of the species go back as far as the mid-1970's, with a single documented record from 2005 which may represent a dispersal event from Colorado (Hoffman 2006, Faulkner 2010, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2012).  Anecdotal sight evidence from the Wind River Range and the Bighorns have been presented from the 1930's, but this is unverified, and subsequent searches of these areas have found no evidence of ptarmigan anywhere else in the state, despite extensive suitable habitat (Hoffman 2006). 

View of the alpine zone in the Snowy Range

 So, if White-tailed Ptarmigan were in the Snowy Range as recently as the mid-1970's, why are they no longer there?  A report prepared by Hoffman (2006) for the USDA Forest Service suggests several reasons for their absence.  First, the available habitat is very limited, and may be unable to support a sustainable population.  While there may be immigration from Colorado occasionally (as the 2005 record suggests), they are unlikely to persist.  Second, the area has high recreational usage, both from extensive snowmobiling in the winter, and hiking in the summer, which may degrade habitat.  Finally, the alpine tundra habitat was extesnsively grazed by sheep until 1997, which may have also degraded the habitat to a point that it is unable to sustain a population of ptarmigan (Hoffman 2006). 

White-tailed Ptarmigan (male)
Rocky Mountain National Park, Laramier County, CO (June 2013)

Despite there being sustainable populations of ptarmigan only 50 kilometers from the Snowy Range, and less than 10 kilometers from the Wyoming border, it is unlikely that White-tailed Ptarmigan will again have a sustained population in southeast Wyoming due to continued habitat degradation.  Why ptarmigan have never been conclusively found in the other Wyoming ranges, however, remains a mystery.  Until we learn more, we will have to be content with hopping across to Colorado and enjoying this spectacular grouse there.

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

References:

Braun, CE, K Martin, and LA Robb (1993) White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura). The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/068

Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2012) eBird. Avian Knowledge Network. Ithaca, NY. www.avianknowledge.net

Faulkner, D (2010) Birds of Wyoming. Roberts and Company Publishers, Greenwood Village, Colorado

Hoffman, RW (2006) White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus): a technical conservation assessment [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Available http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/scp/assessments/whitetailedptarmigan.pdf

Nightjar Surveys June 16-30--Volunteers Needed!

Dear Auduboners,

It’s time to start planning for this year’s nightjar surveys! Our nightjar surveys must be conducted between June 16th and June 30th. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this effort, the Laramie Audubon Society is a yearly participant in a National Nightjar Survey that was initiated in 2007 by the Center for Conservation Biology.

Nightjars are enigmatic, nocturnally-active birds whose populations are thought to be declining throughout North America. Wyoming has two species of nightjars: Common Nighthawk and Common Poorwill. In 2009, Laramie Audubon adopted five survey routes in the vicinity of Laramie (Sybille Canyon, Buford, Harmony, Fox Park, and Rock River). We will be surveying these same routes in 2013 during the established survey period.

The night surveys are fairly easy and really enjoyable. It’s great to be able to spend a few hours collecting data for an important national bird conservation effort. Surveys take no more than two hours and consist of making 10 stops along an established route. At each stop, we count the number of nightjars heard during a 6-minute period and fill out our observations on a data sheet. It is important to have good hearing to conduct these surveys. Surveys have to take place on a relatively clear night when the moon is more than 50 percent full and when there is not too much wind (these requirements can be challenging for the Laramie area!). Surveys begin at least 30 minutes after sunset and must be completed after moonrise and before moonset.  You can do the surveys alone, but it’s easier to work in teams.

If you are interested in participating in these surveys please e-mail me to let me know at sophie_osborn@hotmail.com. For those who would like to participate, I will explain the protocols and data collection, and hand out data sheets, sunset/moonrise/moonset times, and survey route maps on Tuesday June 11 at 6 pm and Wednesday June 12 at 6 pm in the Student Union – at the seating area across from the coffee shop on the main level. Hopefully anybody who is interested will be able to make one of those dates. If not, you can call me at 307-742-6138 to set up an alternate time to meet with me.

Thanks to those who decide to participate and let’s hope the weather cooperates this year!

Sophie

P.S. For those who prefer hiking and doing daytime bird surveys, we will be conducting our annual Brown-capped Rosy-Finch survey on July 20, 2012 this year. More information about that survey to come soon...

Hutton NWR & Chimney Rock Field Trip Report

On Saturday, June 1st, 14 people showed up to bird around Hutton Lake and on down to the Colorado border at Chimney Rock. It was a decent day of birding, despite not finding any active raptor nests along the ridge on the way to Chimney Rock. An unexpected bird for some was a Veery, heard at two stops adjacent to wetlands. The four checklists from the day are below.

Listening for a Veery at Chimney/Camel Rock

-------Hutton Lake NWR, Albany, US-WY-------
Jun 1, 2013 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:     With Laramie Audubon, mild-moderate wind, 40F, mostly cloudy.
37 species

Canada Goose  45
Gadwall  2
Mallard  12
Green-winged Teal  1
Canvasback  8
Redhead  6
Lesser Scaup  8
Ruddy Duck  16
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Eared Grebe  40
Western Grebe  20
Double-crested Cormorant  2
American White Pelican  2
White-faced Ibis  1
American Coot  60
American Avocet  20
Spotted Sandpiper  2
Willet  5
Short-billed Dowitcher  6     We (Chad, Sophie, and I) spent a long time determining to species. Short-billed because of short, straight bill and barring down the sides of the flanks.
Wilson's Phalarope  200     A large raft was floating in the middle of Hutton Lake (easily over 150 in this raft alone) and many others spinning around near the shores of all the lakes.
Forster's Tern  2
Common Raven  2
Horned Lark  4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1     Only saw one fly by, but probably more were present.
Tree Swallow  100     Probably more.
Bank Swallow  1     Only saw one fly by, but probably more were present.
Barn Swallow  3
Cliff Swallow  100     Probably more.
Sage Thrasher  1
Yellow Warbler  2
Brewer's Sparrow  2
Savannah Sparrow  3
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Western Meadowlark  2
Yellow-headed Blackbird  14     Many fewer than a week ago. The large migrating flocks seem to have moved on and only residents are left.
Brewer's Blackbird  6
Common Grackle  5

-------Sand Creek Rd between Hutton NWR and Sportsmans Lake Rd, Albany, US-WY-------
Jun 1, 2013 11:00 AM - 11:25 AM
Protocol: Traveling
8.2 mile(s)
Comments:     With Laramie Audubon, mild-moderate wind, 40F, mostly cloudy.
3 species

Northern Harrier  1
Swainson's Hawk  1
Horned Lark  X

-------Wetlands at Sand Creek & Sportsmans Lake Roads Intersection, Albany, US-WY-------
Jun 1, 2013 11:25 AM - 11:50 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments:     With Laramie Audubon, mild-moderate wind, 40F, mostly cloudy. Also a Mourning Cloak, boreal chorus frogs, and 2 mule deer.
14 species

Mallard  1     On nest with 3 eggs between north side of road and river.
Turkey Vulture  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1     Probably nesting in tall cottonwoods on south side of road.
Barn Swallow  1
Cliff Swallow  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Veery  1
American Robin  1
Gray Catbird  1
European Starling  2
Yellow Warbler  2
Song Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  2
American Goldfinch  2

-------WY-Chimney Rock, Albany, US-WY-------
Jun 1, 2013 11:50 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.7 mile(s)
Comments:     With Laramie Audubon, mild-moderate wind, 40F, mostly cloudy. Also 14 elk (incl one calf) seen en route. A possible Cordilleran Flycatcher along the cliff edge, but too far to verify.
10 species

White-throated Swift  15
American Kestrel  1
Rock Wren  2
Veery  1
Gray Catbird  1
Yellow Warbler  2
Green-tailed Towhee  5
Brewer's Sparrow  7
Western Meadowlark  2
Brewer's Blackbird  4

Disappearing Toucans and Smaller Palm Seeds

One of the many uses of birds to humans is that they are pollinators and seed distributors. A recent article in Science magazine documented a decline in the size of palm tree seeds due to the decline of large-billed birds.

"As toucans and other large-beaked birds have vanished from Brazilian forests, the seeds of palm trees have shrunk, scientists report." Read more here.

Baikal Teal in Montana!

At the end of April, a birder in Montana found a Baikal Teal hanging out with some Wood Ducks near Missoula. This bird is named after where it is usually found this time of year--Lake Baikal in Russia. For some great photos by the person that found the bird, check out his webpage here.

You never know what you might find out there!

Do conservation efforts pay off?

Bees are making a comeback in parts of Europe, according to a study in Ecology Letters.

Much of the news about biodiversity these days is gloomy. But over the last couple of decades, some countries have adopted environmentally-friendly policies to bring species back. Now the question is: Did those programs work?

Find out here at Conservation Magazine.

Hutton NWR & Chimney Rock Field Trip--Sat, June 1st

Sat., June 1. Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge & Chimney Rock.  Check out the improvements to the national wildlife refuge and view waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds and raptors.  There will be opportunities to get out and walk the trails.  Then, head west to Chimney Rock to see White-throated Swifts, swallows, Prairie Falcons and other cliff-dwellers.  Better pack a lunch for this trip.  Trip leader is Hank and his phone number is 307-760-4058 if you have any questions.

Laramie Audubon field trips are free and open to the public and birders of all levels.  Families are welcome. 

Meet at Coal Creek Coffee at 8am to caffeinate and carpool.  Bring lots of snacks, water, binoculars, field guides, scope if you have one.  Be sure to gas up ahead of time.

Hereford Ranch Trip Summary

Saturday morning 7 folks from Laramie traveled to the Wyoming Hereford Ranch in Cheyenne. We had a decent day of birding. The highlight was a male Scarlet Tanager which stayed in a couple trees long enough for us to have great views and take some nice photos. Our whole trip list is below.


Hereford Ranch:
Gadwall  1
Mallard  3
Swainson's Hawk  2
Eurasian Collared-Dove  16
Mourning Dove  4
Great Horned Owl  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  1
American Kestrel  1
Western Kingbird  12
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  4
Bank Swallow  5
Barn Swallow  3
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Mountain Chickadee  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
House Wren  3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Swainson's Thrush  2
American Robin  15
European Starling  20
Yellow Warbler  5
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)  1
Song Sparrow  2
Lincoln's Sparrow  1
White-crowned Sparrow  1
Scarlet Tanager  1    
Black-headed Grosbeak  3
Red-winged Blackbird  20
Western Meadowlark  4
Common Grackle  22
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
Bullock's Oriole  2
American Goldfinch  25
House Sparrow  4

Hereford Reservoir #1:
Canada Goose  8
Gadwall  30
American Wigeon  2
Mallard  8
Northern Shoveler  8
Green-winged Teal  1
Greater/Lesser Scaup  1
Common Merganser  2
Eared Grebe  15
Western Grebe  30
Double-crested Cormorant  1
White-faced Ibis  1
Killdeer  1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  2
Bank Swallow  4
Barn Swallow  2
Yellow Warbler  1
Common Grackle  3

Laramie Audubon May 29 meeting cancelled

The special May 29th meeting for Laramie Audubon Society has been cancelled.  Our speakers will be working in the field.  We will commence our public meetings again on Wednesday, September 25th.

There are a few birding field trips left.  Keep checking this website for the dates and locations of our birding events.

Species Lists for Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip, May 4, 2013

The weather was perfect for the Arapaho NWR field trip in Walden, Colorado.  On the way we stopped at Sodergreen Lake, west of Laramie, then at Woods Landing, before heading to the refuge.  The species lists follow for each of our stops.  Unfortunately, the refuge was nearly dry.  However, the riparian area along the interpretive trail was flowing strongly with snowmelt.

Species	Count	Location
Gadwall	8	Sodergreen Lake
American Wigeon	4	Sodergreen Lake
Mallard	4	Sodergreen Lake
Redhead	8	Sodergreen Lake
Bufflehead	2	Sodergreen Lake
Common Merganser	10	Sodergreen Lake
Western Grebe	4	Sodergreen Lake
Double-crested Cormorant	4	Sodergreen Lake
Great Blue Heron	1	Sodergreen Lake
Turkey Vulture	2	Sodergreen Lake
Golden Eagle	1	Sodergreen Lake
Killdeer	2	Sodergreen Lake
Ring-billed Gull	2	Sodergreen Lake
American Kestrel	2	Sodergreen Lake
Black-billed Magpie	2	Sodergreen Lake
American Crow	4	Sodergreen Lake
Horned Lark	4	Sodergreen Lake
Tree Swallow	20	Sodergreen Lake
Cooper's Hawk	1	Woods Landing
Northern Flicker	2	Woods Landing
Black-billed Magpie	2	Woods Landing
Tree Swallow	10	Woods Landing
Black-capped Chickadee	2	Woods Landing
American Dipper	2	Woods Landing
American Robin	1	Woods Landing
European Starling	20	Woods Landing
Canada Goose	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Gadwall	4	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
American Wigeon	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Mallard	4	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Blue-winged Teal	3	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
American White Pelican	5	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Killdeer	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
American Avocet	13	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Willet	6	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Lesser Yellowlegs	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Wilson's Snipe	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Ring-billed Gull	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
California Gull	4	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
American Kestrel	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
American Crow	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Common Raven	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Horned Lark	10	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Tree Swallow	4	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Sage Thrasher	3	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Vesper Sparrow	10	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Savannah Sparrow	4	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Red-winged Blackbird	4	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Western Meadowlark	2	Arapaho NWR--Auto Loop
Canada Goose	10	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Common Merganser	1	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Black-billed Magpie	4	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
American Crow	2	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Common Raven	2	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Tree Swallow	30	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Violet-green Swallow	4	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Barn Swallow	10	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Marsh Wren	1	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
American Robin	2	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
American Pipit	1	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Yellow-rumped Warbler	1	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Savannah Sparrow	1	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Song Sparrow	3	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Dark-eyed Junco	10	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Red-winged Blackbird	10	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Common Grackle	10	Arapaho NWR--Interpretive Trail
Canada Goose	30	Walden Reservoir
Gadwall	40	Walden Reservoir
American Wigeon	40	Walden Reservoir
Mallard	50	Walden Reservoir
Blue-winged Teal	10	Walden Reservoir
Cinnamon Teal	20	Walden Reservoir
Northern Shoveler	4	Walden Reservoir
Northern Pintail	10	Walden Reservoir
Green-winged Teal	40	Walden Reservoir
Canvasback	10	Walden Reservoir
Redhead	40	Walden Reservoir
Ring-necked Duck	10	Walden Reservoir
Lesser Scaup	30	Walden Reservoir
Bufflehead	10	Walden Reservoir
Ruddy Duck	10	Walden Reservoir
Eared Grebe	2	Walden Reservoir
Western Grebe	40	Walden Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant	20	Walden Reservoir
American White Pelican	10	Walden Reservoir
Great Blue Heron	2	Walden Reservoir
Black-crowned Night-Heron	2	Walden Reservoir
White-faced Ibis	1	Walden Reservoir
Bald Eagle	1	Walden Reservoir
Swainson's Hawk	2	Walden Reservoir
American Coot	50	Walden Reservoir
Killdeer	4	Walden Reservoir
Willet	2	Walden Reservoir
Wilson's Phalarope	2	Walden Reservoir
California Gull	100	Walden Reservoir
Common Raven	1	Walden Reservoir
Tree Swallow	10	Walden Reservoir
Barn Swallow	4	Walden Reservoir
American Robin	2	Walden Reservoir
Vesper Sparrow	10	Walden Reservoir
Savannah Sparrow	2	Walden Reservoir
Song Sparrow	1	Walden Reservoir
White-crowned Sparrow	2	Walden Reservoir
Red-winged Blackbird	10	Walden Reservoir
Yellow-headed Blackbird	4	Walden Reservoir
Common Grackle	20	Walden Reservoir

Video from Arapaho field trip

Duane Short posted a great video of last weekend's field trip to Arapaho NWR. You can watch it on our Facebook page or on YouTube!

Field Trip: Laramie Hot Spots

This Saturday, we will be leading a trip to some of the local birding hotspots in Laramie. As time permits, we will visit the Laramie Greenbelt, LaBonte park, UW campus, and town cemetery. A lot of migrants have returned and more are showing up daily. On this trip we'll see birds from a good cross-section of riparian, shrub, pond, and park-like habitats.

Yellow-headed Blackbird by Shawn Billerman

All ages welcome. Meet at Optimist Park at 7:30 am. Bring water, snacks, binoculars, field guides, and a spotting scope if you have one. Dress for the weather (possible rain).

Optimist Park is located on the west side of Laramie. See our birding map for directions.