ML350217361
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
- Behaviors
- Vocalizing
- Tags
- Habitat
Media notes
One of two individuals observed foraging along the NW slopes just below the peaks.
Observation details
Immanuel and I arrived at the trailhead for Island Lake and began hiking up at approximately 3:45am, arriving on top of the NW ridge above the lake at 5am. Immediately upon arrival we could distinctly hear at least 4 individuals —and possibly as many as 6 or more— bugling and cackling from the far WNW slopes at and just below the summit(s). After nearly an hour and a half of listening and scoping without any visuals we opted to hike further up the WNW slopes to only a couple hundred feet below the summit(s), and well above the lake itself in hopes of seeing some individuals. Our efforts were rewarded when we sighted two birds above us, on the summit and outlined against the early morning sky. Shortly thereafter we observed both individuals fly off the top of the ridgeline moving a couple hundred yards to the N, and settle on a rocky, shale slope with some patches of grasses just below the peaks. For nearly an hour we observed with a spotting scope as they foraged, working there way back up, even stopping to preen for awhile and periodically bugling all the while. Afterwards, we moved back to the lower ridge on the NNW side of the lake where we stopped once more to observed at least a total of 5 individuals —two perched up on the W crest-line profiled against the sky, and three individuals flying just below the peaks further NW to feed on the slopes we had just been viewing, two of which were likely the same individuals we had initially sighted. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our experience with these incredible birds!
Technical information
- Dimensions
- 1543 pixels x 2057 pixels
- Original file size
- 3.16 MB