KILBUCK AND AHKLUN MOUNTAIN BIRDS 



53 



alcyori). Bull (m Bent 1938) reported that near Goodnews Bay, gyrfalcons 

 ate 'the willow ptarmigan and the rock ptarmigan, as well as lemmings, 

 snowshoe rabbits, minks, and weasels." 



Spruce grouse (Dendragapus canadensis). Upr. 



Grouse occurred in and near spruce forests throughout the study 

 area. We found them nesting at the Salmon and Tuluksak rivers and the 

 upper Togiak River, and they were reported at the Kisaralik River 

 (C. Clark, Jr., personal communication). Grouse nested in spruce forests, 

 in riparian spruce-cottonwoods, and at the edges of secondary broadleaf 

 woodlands. In August- September, grouse families used dry spruce for- 

 ests, dwarf shrub mat, and secondary broadleaf woodland; in late Octo- 

 ber-November, they used spruce forests mainly at the riparian spruce- 

 poplar edges. One to six broods were seen each of 10 years at the 

 Tuluksak River. Broods of large young averaged 4.0 young (N= 8; range, 

 3-6); we usually found full-grown young by 1-18 September. 



Willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). FCpr. 



This ptarmigan occurred throughout the study area, with the possible 

 exception of the smaller offshore islands. We found breeding birds at the 

 Salmon River, the Tuluksak River, the Kisaralik River, Goodnews Bay, 

 Chagvan Bay, Cape Peirce, and Togiak Lake; we also saw birds at the 

 Kwethluk River. Ptarmigans were seen in summer at the Kisaralik River 

 on 16-17 June 1987 (B. J. McCaffery, personal communication) and 

 10-22 August 1985 (M. Brown et al. , unpublished); at the Kwethluk River 

 on 12 and 27 July 1985 (M. Brown et al., unpublished); the Eek River 

 (R. Baxter, unpublished) and 21 and 24 June 1985 (M. Brown et al., 

 unpublished); and the Kanektok River (White and Boyce 1978; J. L. Hout, 

 personal communication). J. L. Hout (personal communication) found a 

 female and seven young at Kagati Lake on 3 August 1973, and M. J. Fry 

 (unpublished) saw birds there in summer. D. Roseneau (personal commu- 

 nication) and B. Huffmon (personal communication) found breeding birds 

 at the Arolik and Goodnews rivers; D. F. Parmelee and J. M. Parmelee 

 (unpublished) found probable breeding birds at Chagvan Bay. P. D. 

 Ameson and D. B. McDonald (personal communication) found birds at 

 Crooked Island in June-July 1977. Residents of Nyac reported flocks of 

 ptarmigans in sheltered areas during winter at the upper Tuluksak River. 



Ptarmigans were generally in low to tall scrub thickets or dwarf shrub 

 mat habitats at 6-370 m asl in summer and fall. On 7 May 1973, we found 

 three pairs and nine single birds along a 3 .2-km stretch of a stream valley 

 south of Slug Mountain (Cape Peirce). Flight displays and territorial 

 skirmishes were noted daily beginning 22 May 1987 at Chagvan Bay (D. F. 

 Parmelee and J. M. Parmelee, unpublished). One clutch was completed 



