OFFSHORE MARINE OBSERVATION OF WILLOW PTARMIGAN, INCLUDING WATER LANDINGS, KUSKOKWIM BAY, ALASKA

We report an observation of Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) encountered 8 to 17 km from the nearest shoreline on Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska, on 30 August 2003. The ptarmigan were observed flying, landing on our research vessel, and landing and taking off from the water surface. We also report on one o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Wilson bulletin (Wilson Ornithological Society) 2005-03, Vol.117 (1), p.12-14
Main Authors: ZIMMERMAN, CHRISTIAN E, HILLGRUBER, NICOLA, BURRIL, SEAN E, ST. PETERS, MICHELLE A, WETZEL, JENNIFER D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerial locomotion
CONTENTS
flight
Lagopus lagopus
Metapopulation ecology
Observational research
Ptarmigans
Research vessels
Sea birds
Sea water
seabirds
Seas
shorelines
Surface water
Vehicular flight
Waves
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Description
Summary:We report an observation of Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) encountered 8 to 17 km from the nearest shoreline on Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska, on 30 August 2003. The ptarmigan were observed flying, landing on our research vessel, and landing and taking off from the water surface. We also report on one other observation of ptarmigan sitting on the water surface and other marine observations of ptarmigan from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database. These observations provide evidence that Willow Ptarmigan are capable of dispersing across large bodies of water and landing and taking off from the water surface.
ISSN:0043-5643
2162-5204
DOI:10.1676/04-074