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(Bismarck ND)
North Dakota Game and Fish today announced their intention to distribute 500 breeding pairs of Willow Ptarmigan in selected sites along the ND Canada border. Thousands of sites were surveyed and each site has been scientifically chosen for it's location and habitat match to the Willow Ptarmigan's needs. The birds will be released in Mid-April so as to encourage 1st year distribution breeding of as many pairs as possible. The birds will be located in grasslands that have nearby available willow containing wetlands as the birds nest in those grasslands but prefer to spend much of their day feeding and resting in the willows. These areas will be subject to very strict wetland and grassland regulations to ensure the Ptarmigan habitat remains viable.
Officials are saying that this will be seen as a potential boon to birdwatchers and nature photographers. This may also lessen the viewing pressure that's been put on our suffering Sage Grouse populations due to the novelty of the new species. "The long distances folks in the region would have to travel to observe and photograph these birds is a big part of why we believe this program will be successful." said one official on the condition of anonymity. "We believe this will be a major draw to bring dozens of folks in from all over the lower 48.".
Watch the North Dakota Game and Fish website for further details as well as a map to the areas in which the birds have been released.
North Dakota Game and Fish today announced their intention to distribute 500 breeding pairs of Willow Ptarmigan in selected sites along the ND Canada border. Thousands of sites were surveyed and each site has been scientifically chosen for it's location and habitat match to the Willow Ptarmigan's needs. The birds will be released in Mid-April so as to encourage 1st year distribution breeding of as many pairs as possible. The birds will be located in grasslands that have nearby available willow containing wetlands as the birds nest in those grasslands but prefer to spend much of their day feeding and resting in the willows. These areas will be subject to very strict wetland and grassland regulations to ensure the Ptarmigan habitat remains viable.
Officials are saying that this will be seen as a potential boon to birdwatchers and nature photographers. This may also lessen the viewing pressure that's been put on our suffering Sage Grouse populations due to the novelty of the new species. "The long distances folks in the region would have to travel to observe and photograph these birds is a big part of why we believe this program will be successful." said one official on the condition of anonymity. "We believe this will be a major draw to bring dozens of folks in from all over the lower 48.".
Watch the North Dakota Game and Fish website for further details as well as a map to the areas in which the birds have been released.
