I’ve spent the last four afternoons looking for willow ptarmigan.  One of my photographic goals is to document more of their interesting behavior.  On top of that list of photo wants are photos of willow ptarmigan in their snow burrows.  Ptarmigan use snow to help insulate them against the frigid winter temperatures of interior Alaska.  Their use of snow burrows can occur any time of the day but most common as they prepare to roost for the night.  Willow ptarmigan are cyclic and their numbers have been quite low over the past two or three winters.  But as Justin pointed out, they seem to be bouncing back. Continue reading →