Beyond Your Backyard - National Bird Day Features the Bluebirds 🐦
By Kimberly J. Epp
Mountain Bluebirds are a beautiful, yet sadly declining species.
They are cavity nesters, which is why putting out nesting boxes each Spring (early March) helps them out. These birds pair up in late fall and winter. They migrate from the States, and unlike other bluebird species they prefer the open terrain. The males are bright blue and females are a drabber brown. Males are bright and colorful to initially attract their mate, and then to detract predators from the nest and the young. Four to eight eggs make up the clutch, and there may be 1 to 3 clutches per season. Generally one egg is laid each day.
A full clutch of Mountain Bluebird nestlings in a box near Eastend. The young nestlings must be banded before they fledge so as to keep the stress at a minimum. Lorne Scott has banded thousands of these nestlings. It is truly amazing to see a large hand so carefully place a tiny band on a leg the width of a toothpick. - Photo by Kimberly Epp
Mountain Bluebirds generally migrate together in flocks of about 100 birds.
With fewer nesting cavities available due to habitat loss, nesting boxes are a great option.
However, you cannot just build one (or more) and then not maintain them. Last year, we found some boxes that hadn't been maintained in years. Tree Swallows also like raising their broods in these boxes. One box had 2 sets of nests, one nest built above 2 adult dead swallows. And because the mites/infected feces infected the box contents, those swallows died as well. The cleaning process is explained below.
It is also important to point out that bluebirds will not use boxes that are not cleaned out anyway.
Earlier this year, I wrote up a post requesting Blue bird box builders. The good people of Moose Jaw came through.
Patti Kosteniuk screws in the last scew after cleaning out the nesting box. - Photo by Kimberly Epp
So, MJNS will be holding a building bee in early March, and two weeks later we will be heading out to clean boxes and replace worn out boxes. We have enough builders, but can always use more bird house cleaners and box replacers.
Because of the risk of mites, each year the boxes need to be emptied completely, then (using gloves, mask and an old brush) spread the sulfur, then brush it out. We will work out the details of who is bringing what, and maybe this year Patti and I will bring an electric drill! We will likely hold a volunteer meeting prior to heading out. And always dress warm and bring a camera, and maybe even a tripod
Bluebird couples wait "patiently", as their human servants clear out their condos. Last year, one was claimed almost before the final screw was tightened. You can expect some drama in an area where there are few nesting holes, and several species who would love to have their own home. They are no different than us. I'm sure the new boxes will be the first to be claimed!
One week after the four of us volunteered to clean out the bluebird boxes that Kelly Wiens had been caring for over several years, Michael St.Laurent headed to the area. Mike is a local professional Wildlife Photographer (and was also our guest speaker on October, 2017). So he headed out to Buffalo Pound Provincial Park to see if he could photograph some paired Mountain Bluebirds. Well, he got the show he totally unexpected.
This male Mountain Bluebird and Least Chipmunk face off, and as it turns out squatters have no rights in nature. - Photo by Michael St.Laurent
He had his tripod set up - and his sights set on a box that seemed to have some activity within and around. If you can imagine his surprise, out popped the cute little face of a tiny Least Chipmunk...who was also looking for a suite for her family. Well, papa bluebird was not to keen on that. Whether "squatters rights" can be claimed in this instance, Mr. Bluebird knew the home was built for him.
Well, the male grabbed the tiny Least Chipmunk and threw him to the ground. There was certainly no niceties. Mike then switched to video mode as both male and female chased that poor chipmunk so far that I'm sure that little guy will think twice before he tries to take on a Bluebird Box as a home In my perfect world, there would be nesting boxes for chipmunks, too.
Time for eviction, young fellah! Male bluebird evicts a chipmunk - Photo by Michael St.Laurent
So what is the status of Mountain Bluebirds? Although they are still considered fairly common, populations decline by about 26 per cent in just 6 decades, according to the North America Breeding Bird Survey. So, let's continue to give them a helping hand. I think that they are doing better because of us!
The Moose Jaw Nature Society would also like to thank Kelly Wiens for his many years and countless hours of hard work building blue bird houses, cleaning houses, and maintaining the houses in the Buffalo Pound Provincial Park area, as far as I know 50 or more boxes. Not to mention maintaining the wakamow feeder.
We have now taken these duties off of his hands, but will need many willing volunteers. We have fun, stop to take photos of the bluebirds and crocuses and get to know other naturalists. So, hey, it's work...but enjoyable work. Plus you will almost always see cottontail rabbits, deer, bison, porcupine and various birds.
The Moose Jaw Nature Society meets monthly on the fourth Friday at St. Mark's Church.
We meet throughout the year for guided hikes, trips, programs and workshops. And all that for a mere $15 membership fee, family $25, and child $5 . Rich Pickering is our President.
He has some exciting speakers coming up at our meetings beginning again in January, and he and I will be collaborating on some more family friendly public programs. All visitors are welcome to all programs. Take only pictures, leave only footprints, and keep only memories.
Epp is an Environmental Educator and writer and is also the Past President and current Programs Director for the MJNS.
#NationalBirdDayJanuary5