Subject: [Tweeters] FW: Re: Spruce Grouse Redux (oops!)
Date: Aug 7 02:21:09 2006
From: vogelfreund at comcast.net - vogelfreund at comcast.net


=========================
I forgot to check the reply-to address;

-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: vogelfreund at comcast.net
To: Fred.Chancey at comcast.net
Subject: Re: Spruce Grouse Redux
Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2006 09:18:21 +0000
> ======================
> 8/7/06
>
> Hi again regarding Franklin's Grouse;
>
> I chose Fred's short message to reply to, instead of his longer one.
>
> There is no doubt in my mind about the identity of the female Franklin's Grouse
> I saw back in September, 1988 in the Wilderness area west of the Nat.Park. I'm
> not saying they are there now, with increased human pressure (recreational) and
> logging in the lower part of that forest. At least the signs around where I
> parked said that logging was to commence any day. But not to forget that another
> sighting of a Spruce Grouse was reported a few years earlier at nearby Welcome
> Pass ("Birds of Whatcom County").
>
> No, I don't think that assemblage of several families of reddish grouse among
> alders reported for near Ross Lake (Canada?) were Spruce Grouse either.
>
> The time for getting out and looking for grouse species is right now! A survey
> needs to be made of the border swath in the NC Nat. Park, unless they are
> keeping results of one already made a secret. A claim of a Rock Ptarmigan
> sighting was posted today, or anyway I saw it today, across the border on Chaem
> Mountain (if I read it right). That is on the south side of the Fraser River.
> Therfore, it seems to me that while a Spruce Grouse survey is made in the north
> part of the Nat. Park, they (whoever they are) should keep their eyes open for
> Rock Ptarmigan too. Mt.Redoubt on the park map looks promising.
>
> (Pre)historically, Spruce (Franklin's) Grouse were found all the way down to the
> shore (but not on the offshore islands). I suspect occasional (mosaic-type)
> forest fires offered suitable habitat for spring/summer activity by Spruce
> Grouse at the early successional stage of tree regrowth. Of course we know that
> they change their diet during the late fall/winter months to fir needles. But
> "white" settlement put an end to those "Fool Hens" living around civilization.
>
> I guess that's about all I know about Spruce Grouse.
>
> Oh, to comment on my snapshot of a juvenile Spruce Grouse at Manning Park, it (&
> the rest of the brood) were as rufous as the Rufous-phase adult in the Nat.Geo.
> field guide. That was on a WFO field trip, and those were experienced birders
> with me.
>
> So long for now,
>
> Phil Hotlen
> Bellingham, WA
>
> p.s. Grouse hunters don't stay on the trails when they're out hunting. Maybe a
> birder or two should change hats and buy a hunting license. Then check way up
> there along the timberline. (Well, it's just a thought.)
>
>
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: Fred.Chancey at comcast.net
> > Phil,
> >
> > Thanks for starting the discussion, but it's not leading me in the direction
> I'd
> > hoped: yes or unlikely. I guess most of us don't really have enough
> experience
> > with Spruce Grouse to be very comfortable with definite answers.
> >
> > I used to live in Bellingham in the early 70's and still read Tweeters on Jack
> > Siler's site. I will continue to monitor it because this is intriguing me
> more
> > now.
> >
> > Thanks again,
> Fred
>
>



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