Birdwatching at Glacier National Park 🏞

June 4, 2023

I once overheard someone in a Montana convenience store say, “There are two seasons here. Winter season and construction season.” I didn’t understand what they meant until I drove to Glacier National Park in hopes of hunting down a White-tailed Ptarmigan. They’re elusive birds associated with alpine habitat at high elevations (i.e., at or above treeline). I’d done a ton of research identifying the most reliable places to find them in the park and the same name kept coming up: Logan’s Pass.

The only way to get to Logan’s Pass by car is to take the scenic 50 mile Going-to-the-Sun Road. Upon arriving at Glacier NP, I learned that a section of Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed for road maintenance— a section encompassing Logan’s Pass. A change of plans ensued.

I’m a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason.” I explored different areas of the park than I would have otherwise and spent the day with lots of birds (and chipmunks). Until next time, ptarmigans 🌞…