Willow Ptarmigan

Because of the habitat niche ptarmigan occupy, few upland hunters have had the privilege of pursuing them. The willow ptarmigan is found across the northern parts of Canada—from Newfoundland to B.C.—and south through the mountainous regions of central B.C. It prefers the generally treeless habitat offered by tundra and mountains, except for winter forays below the treeline. The rock ptarmigan's distribution is similar to that of the willow, though the willow ptarmigan is typically found in the moister, more densely vegetated portions of their collective range. The white-tailed ptarmigan is the smallest and most narrowly distributed of these birds, occupying the highest, most barren mountain slopes, including alpine meadows and rock slides. Ptarmigan are not especially wary of humans, except in some easily accessed local regions.

The long-term trend in population numbers appears to be stable, but monitoring data are sparse. The Willow Ptarmigan faces threats from direct and indirect effects of disturbances such as industrial developments and recreational activities. Threats from development may be locally significant but are unlikely to result in widespread declines if the majority of the range remains remote and undeveloped (Environment Canada 2011, Hannon et al. 1998). Climate change is a concern for ptarmigan, but the potential effects are unclear; range may be lost in some areas because of change in treeline, but an increase in the abundance of shrub habitats may be a benefit in other areas.

General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.

Issues:

• Lack of data on population dynamics in Sub Region
• There may be herbicide spraying in regions in the Sub Region that may be affecting birds that eat or depend on the sprayed plants

Goals:

• Implement studies to determine population dynamics
• Determine where and when herbicide spraying occurs, and what plant species are being treated
• Determine if the herbicide spraying is affecting willow ptarmigan populations