For 2011, what were the earliest reports of ptarmigans with young chicks at Rainier? Seems that they were postings on Tweeters in late July/early August. With such a heavy snowfall this winter, .if incubation is ~23 days and let's say the chicks seen were ~one week old...that would put beginning incubation sometime around late June. I guess there must be some small patches that are snow free in late June???????

does anybody know anything about when these guys begin nesting up at Sunrise and Paradise? And where? I would suspect that their nesting habits are dependent on the variations of snow levels from year to year. Do they nest at the lowest "above timberline" elevations that would become first available? Amazing little birds when you think about it!


Eric Kowalczyk
Seattle