Ptarmigan.html (Page 1)

White-tailed Ptarmigan has been found in New Mexico, typically on the highest peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in north-central NM, in historic times. Two reintroductions were performed in the Pecos Wilderness in 1981.

Historical reports of Ptarmigan (data from several sources, primarily the NMOS Field Notes) have come from several northern New Mexico locations:

yyyy/mm, observer, number, location, county, lati-long

1926/11, Ligon, JS, 2, Costilla Peak, Taos, 36.4341N,105.1722W
1952/7, Brewer, J., 5, Ricardo Creek, Costilla Peak, Taos, 36.4341N, 105.1722W
1966/12, ?, ?, Santa Fe Peak, Santa Fe, 35.7996N, 105.8119W
1969/4, Saylors, D., 3, Latir Peak, Taos, 36.7819N, 105.5044W
1970/2, Welsh, R., 2, Costilla Peak, Taos, 36.4341N, 105.1722W
1974/11, Lesparance, J., 3, Cumbres Pass, Rio Arriba, 36.911N, 106.4289W
1976/9, Crellin, J., 5, Wheeler Peak, Taos, 36.5739N, 105.4444W
1976/11, Stimson, F., 2, Santa Fe Baldy, Santa Fe, 35.7996N, 105.8119W
1977/7, Morris, B., ?, Gold Hill, Taos, 36.3835N, 105.2719W
1978/8, Hubbard, J., 2, Latir Peak, Taos, 36.7819N, 105.5044W
1979/8, Renfro, A., ?, Latir Peak ,Taos, 36.7819N, 105.5044W
1979/8, Renfro, A., 2hen/brood, Wheeler Peak, Taos, 36.5739N, 105.4444W
1979/8, Peterson, R., 2, State Line Peak, Taos, 36.9379N, 105.3694W
1981/5, Hubbard, J,. 22, Pecos Wilderness, na, na - first reintroduction
1981/8, Baltosser, W., 1, North Fork L, Taos, 36.0041N, 105.3132W
1981/9, Baltosser, W., 22, Pecos Wilderness, na, na - second reintroduction
1982/6, Peterson, R., 1, State Line Peak, Taos, 36.9379N, 105.3694W
1982/8, Espanoza, E., 1, Pecos Wilderness, na, na
1982/8, Peterson, R., 7, El Vintrero, Taos, ?,?
1983/9, De Lorenzo, D., 20, Middle Fork Lake, Pecos W., Mora, 35.9917N, 105.5283W
1983/9, De Lorenzo, D., ?, Rincon Boinito, Pecos W., Mora, 35.5847N, 105.3217W
1985/7, Frenzel, M., 10, Truchas Peak, Rio Arriba, 36.0072N, 105.695W
1985/8, Sandoval, A., 5, Rincon Boinito, Pecos W., Mora, 35.5847N, 105.3217W
1985/8, Sandoval, A., 10, Truchas Peak, Rio Arriba, 36.0072N, 105.695W
1985/8, Sandoval, A., 4, Jicarita Peak, Taos, 36.0553N, 105.5617W
1986/8, Johnson, E., 1, Santa Fe Baldy, Santa Fe, 35.7996N, 105.8119W
1986/10, Stevenson, T., 12, Rincon Boinito, Pecos W., Mora, 35.5847N, 105.3217W
1987/8, MacCarter, C., 5, Pecos Baldy Pk., Mora, 35.8899N, 105.6592W
1990/8, Crawford, C., 4, Santa Fe Baldy, Santa Fe, 35.7996N, 105.8119W
1993/8, Wolfe, D., 1, Barbara Peak, Rio Arriba, 35.98N, 105.544W
1996/8, Oldenettel, J, 4 subad&pair w/3chick, Barbara Ridge, Taos, 36.04795, 105.5531W.
1998/9, West, B., ?, Jicarita Peak, Taos, 36.0553N, 105.5617W.
1999/7, E. Rominger, 1, Pecos Baldy, Mora, 35.9078N, 105.6676W
1999/9, E. Rominger, 6, Wheeler Peak, Taos, 36.5739N, 105.4444W
2000/5, E. Rominger, 5, Kachina Peak, na
2000/7, Air Survey, 6 at 3 sites, Jicarita Peak, Taos, 36.0553N, 105.5617W.
2000/9, L. Ahlm, 3, Mt. Walter (near Wheeler Peak), Taos, 36.5739N, 105.4444W
2002/6, E. Rominger, 5, Latir Peak,Taos, 36.7819N, 105.5044W
2002/9, E. Rominger, 11, Wheeler Peak, Taos, 36.5739N, 105.4444W
2002/8, R. Gardner, 5, Jicarita Peak, Taos, 36.0553N, 105.5617W
2002/8, e. Rominger, 2, Jicarita Peak, Taos, 36.0553N, 105.5617W
2002/8, E. Rominger, 1, Truchas Peak, Rio Arriba, 36.0072N, 105.695W
2002/8, J. Klingel, feather, Santa Fe Baldy, Santa Fe, 35.7996N, 105.8119W
2004/7, C. Black, 1, Jicarita Peak, Taos, 36.0553N, 105.5617W
2004/7, J. Beason, 3, Jicarita Peak, Taos, 36.0553N, 105.5617W
2004/8, S.O.Williams, 2, Jicarita Peak, Taos, 36.0553N, 105.5617W
2005/8, Parmeter, J, pair w/chick, Barbara Ridge, Taos, 36.04795, 105.5531W.

Recent searches have been conducted at Latir Peak and Latir Mesa, Taos County, in the summer of 1995 and along Santa Barbara Ridge south of and including Jicarita Peak, Taos County in August of 1996 by John Parmeter and myself. John also spent part of a day on Santa Fe Baldy, Santa Fe County in the summer of 1995 without success. We spent most of the day on Latir Peak/Mesa and found only American Pipits. At least 9 Ptarmigan were found, several photographed, one mile south of Jicarita Peak in extreme southeastern Taos Co., in 1996. Extensive surveys were carried out 1999-2004 with birds found at several locations in the Sangre de Cristos Mts. for my 2005 Big Year effort, we (a rather large group of about 10 people) hiked to the same area we had the 1998 birds and quickly located a pair and a small chick.

To reach the Santa Barbara Ridge location, take New Mexico Route 3 in extreme southeastern Taos County to about 3 miles southeast of Angostura. Turn southwest on Forest Road 161 and go to the end of the road (about 3 miles, el. 10,720 ft.). The gradually sloping trail from the end of the road winds through the forest for about 2.5 miles, then climbs approximately 1/2 mile up a steep slope up to Santa Barbara Ridge at 12,400 ft. On reaching the ridge, there will be a hill just to the north and Jacarita Peak beyond the hill about 1.5 miles to the north. The Ptarmigan were found along the trail on the west side of the first hill. Two groups were found, an adult pair with 3 half-grown chicks and an hour later a group of 4 adult birds a little further up the slope.