MBTCS News & Updates
Building a Mountain Bluebird nest box: A guide to supporting local wildlife
Every nest box you build is more than just a woodworking project; it's a lifeline for a Mountain Bluebird. You help in the conservation of these magnificent birds, but you're also setting the stage for years of joyful bird watching.
Imagine enjoying a cup of coffee and watching as your efforts pay off with a flurry of bluebird activity—that’s something truly special.
Summary of MBTCS Annual General Meeting
The Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society (MBTCS) held its 2023 Annual General Meeting on April 6, 2024, at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre in Lethbridge. The meeting, chaired by MBTCS President Jim Leitch, was attended by 43 members both in-person and via Zoom.
Spring Orientation is June 1
We often talk about monitoring our “trails”. So what is a “trail”? A trail is a series of bluebird nest boxes strategically placed in order to entice a pair of mountain bluebirds to build a nest and raise their family (or families).
If you would like to see what a working trail looks like, you are invited to join Jim Leitch, President of MBTCS, on his trail in west Lethbridge.
Citizen Science Projects to Help Birds
If you love birds, then you are likely looking for ways to help birds thrive! Citizen science is a great way to help improve our understanding of birds.
Where do Mountain Bluebirds migrate to in Winter?
Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) are an absolute delight during the early spring and summer in Southern Alberta. When they quickly disappear in September it is clear that the seasons are changing, and autumn has arrived. Where do the Mountain Bluebirds go when they leave Alberta?
Supporting Students Redevelop a Trail in Guernsey State Park, WY
We receive the occasional inquiry about building the ideal nest box for Mountain Bluebirds and are always happy to help as best as we can. Our Trail Master was contacted in early March with questions from Wyoming for a trail redevelopment at Guernsey State Park! He went above and beyond by sending pieces for a sample MBTCS nest box at the end of March.
Spring Orientation a Success
We are happy to report another successful spring orientation took place on Saturday June 5, 2022. There were 13 members present to learn the fundamentals of being a great Trail Monitor with the Mountain Bluebird Conservation Society (MBTCS).
Invest in the future of Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society - donate to our Endowment Fund!
With the support of our amazing supporters we have established an Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta! Endowment Fund donations are not linked to a specific initiative or program. These contributions are invested to generate a stable source of revenue. In doing so, they help us build a sustainable future by providing long-term support of our efforts to conserve and restore the natural range of the Mountain Bluebird across Southern Alberta.
Bluebird hybrids: help needed with study
Western bluebird numbers appear to be increasing in southwestern Alberta, which suggests they are expanding their range. As they expand, low starting numbers may force them to breed with the more abundant mountain bluebird and produce hybrids… To ensure we don’t miss any sample opportunities, we need the help of citizen scientists and bird enthusiasts from within the community.
Mountain Bluebirds, the ideal farm tenant
Mountain Bluebirds are great neighbours! Bluebirds provide natural pest control. They are insectivorous - which means they love to eat Coleopterans (beetles), Orthopterans (grasshoppers, crickets), Arachnids (spiders), and Lepidopterans (primarily caterpillars), and other insects. They prefer habitat that is sparsely treed grasslands with suitable cavity nest locations.