The plump, white birds whose image has been embroidered on mittens, coats, and has inspired countless carvings in the North, have been scarce this year.

Only 67 ptarmigan were counted during the recent Christmas bird count.

But the fluctuation in their numbers is part of a natural cycle for the ptarmigan Bromley says -- a fluctuation he has watched with interest since he was a boy, growing up in Yellowknife.

"Our peaks used to be nine to 15 birds," Bromley says.

That has changed dramatically. Bird feeders stocked with seeds have helped sustain the fluffy white birds, also known as "chickens."

The most recent peak in the ptarmigan's eight-to-11- year cycle was in 1996 when almost 500 ptarmigan were counted.

But this year bird watchers were wondering where have all the ptarmigan gone?

"Isn't that a song?" Bromley says, laughing.

"If we didn't see their numbers recover over the next five years, we'd worry," Bromley says. "But you're dealing with a 10-year cycle."

"It's been noticed for hundreds of years in the North," says Alasdair Veitch, a biologist in Norman Wells. "Snowshoes hares have a population cycle, too."

When bunnies are scarce, Veitch says, ptarmigan appear to be low in numbers, too.

"No one's really sure what the reasons are," Veitch says, adding that common theories revolve around food supply and predators.

While "chickens" are "not rocket scientists," Veitch says, "they are very successful. They lay about eight to 11 eggs a year."

Chickens are also a popular game bird. "And they are very tasty," Veitch says.

The sweet-looking ptarmigan is also closely associated with Yellowknife, Bromley says, and is always sought out and marvelled at by visitors.

"People are interested in them," Bromley says. "They notice when they aren't around."