The Return of the Mountain Bluebirds

Yesterday was indeed a banner day. I saw my first Violet-green Swallows and Mountain Bluebirds of the season. Last year I saw a pair of Mountain Bluebirds at some nest boxes on a farm. But I still think that there was a pair or two nesting at another site – the site where I could never find the nest. Maybe this year I will solve that niggling little question. The pictures here are of the male I saw yesterday and the pair that were using the farm nest boxes last year.

the male I saw yesterday – the journey home

curious

pausing in feeding her young

Bluebirds are hole-nesters. They sometimes have to fight off swallows and flickers for their nesting hole (or nest box). The number of nesting places can limit the number of hole-nesters – especially if dead standing trees are cut in an area. Nest boxes have helped to augment some Bluebird populations. Put up nest boxes if you like watching birds and helping out some populations of birds.

all writing and photos on this blog copyright Joanne Siderius, 2013