A tiny ptarmigan gets a lift from dadCopyright 2007 Lydia Hinshaw
DENALI NATIONAL PARK, AK -- On my last visit to Savage River, the willow ptarmigans who inhabit the area were involved in stately mating dances, as chronicled in a May 16 entry on this blog.
Saturday, the low trailside vegetation rustled with family life. The ptarmigan chicks have hatched, and are running loose. The hopeless romantics of May have become the harried parents of June.
The little ones are fragile, and could easily be stepped on by an unwary hiker on the popular hiking trail, so this father gave one of his kids a piggyback ride across the footpath. Mom was nearby, shepherding another youngster.
Baby birds grow up fast. Since I arrived here, all of us bus drivers have been observing a raven's nest in a spruce tree that's in full view of the Park Road. Last Tuesday, the "baby" ravens were so big the nest could barely hold them, yet they fought to stay in it, terrified of falling out. The raven parents were still bringing home takeout for their brood.
Wednesday, the nest was empty.
In another month this little ptarmigan will be as big as his parents, and ready to face life on his own.
Saturday, the low trailside vegetation rustled with family life. The ptarmigan chicks have hatched, and are running loose. The hopeless romantics of May have become the harried parents of June.
The little ones are fragile, and could easily be stepped on by an unwary hiker on the popular hiking trail, so this father gave one of his kids a piggyback ride across the footpath. Mom was nearby, shepherding another youngster.
Baby birds grow up fast. Since I arrived here, all of us bus drivers have been observing a raven's nest in a spruce tree that's in full view of the Park Road. Last Tuesday, the "baby" ravens were so big the nest could barely hold them, yet they fought to stay in it, terrified of falling out. The raven parents were still bringing home takeout for their brood.
Wednesday, the nest was empty.
In another month this little ptarmigan will be as big as his parents, and ready to face life on his own.
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