Willow Ptarmigan, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2236

A male willow ptarmigan follows a female ptarmigan at the snow line along the high tide line. This photo was shot in mid-May near Reed Inlet. There was still several feet of snow at high tide line during a very late spring. The red eye brows on display on the male are part of ptarmigan mating behavior. This photo illustrates the month of March in the 2002 Juneau Alaska Calendar. Camera: Nikon F5, Lens: 300mm f/4 Nikkor, film: 35mm Fuji Velvia.-Mark Kelley