Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Re: Spruce Grouse Post
Date: Aug 1 12:35:17 2006
From: Paul Hicks - phicks at accessgrace.org


Phil & Tweets,
I'm not sure what this conversation's about, so maybe this does not
contribute. In July 1997 I encountered 3 Spruce Grouse in the Hardy Burn
west of Rainy Pass. The first two were at the bottom of the clearing--not
far from the hiway. A male was calling from much higher, near the bluffs. I
do not know which subspecies. I'm guessing this is a known location.
--Paul Hicks
Tenino, s. Thurston Co
phicks AT accessgrace.org
=====================
7/31/06

Hi Fred and Tweeters,

I sure wish some real experts on Spruce Grouse would chime in.

I thought maybe the humid forest corridor along Ross Lake might have
isolated
the population of Spruce Grouse in the National Park near the border, from
the
main population to the east (Hart's Pass area & Manning Provincial Park).
But
from what you described, maybe there is a continuous range, going around the
top of Ross Lake in Canada.

I even got a poor quality photo of the Manning chicks, taken with a 110
pocket
camera (1987). But I don't know where I stashed it or the negative. The
situation was thus: I was riding in the back of someone else's car (on a
field
trip), when the camper truck ahead of us stopped for no apparent reason.
Then
we saw a mother grouse and a line of chicks crossing in front of the truck
ahead of us. Then we all got out and went closer to see the grouse, which we
were pretty sure were Spruce Grouse. The last chick froze in the middle of
the
road, and finally the driver got out and picked the plump little chick up
and
carried it over the the side, where the last of the Grouse family could
still
be seen. They disappeared into loose undergrowth in what I guess was
Lodgepole
Pine woodland (near the RV campground).

Phil Hotlen