MBTCS News & Updates
30 years of Bluebird Monitoring of the Carol Porter Mountain Bluebird Trail at Cypress Hills
In the last 30 years of monitoring of the Carol Porter Trail there have been three seasons with low numbers of bluebirds fledged: 2002, 2009, and 2021. The weather appears to be the main factor in the number of bluebirds fledged.
Congratulations to Pres Winter, Alberta Emerald Award Lifetime Achievement
Pres Winter started The Viking Bluebird Trail in 1977. It began when John Janzen Nature Centre director provided 200 nestboxes. The Bluebird Trail is now more than 1200 boxes spanning 275 miles of country roads in Beaver County.
President’s Fall Report
This has been an extraordinary year for unpredictable weather, with unprecedented heat this past summer. These extreme weather patterns have also taken a toll on the mountain bluebird population. Numbers of returning bluebirds this past spring to nest were down from previous years and in some areas the birds were late in arriving.
Monitoring Bluebirds
It’s been an eventful summer full of learning opportunities for Diane Burt-Stuckey, an MD of Pincher Creek resident. She has been monitoring a trail of mountain bluebird nest boxes through the Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society.
Share your MBTCS History
As our 50th anniversary approaches we are asking for you to share your stories, photos, and history of the Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society! Help us document our history and the impact over the years.
Spring Orientation a Success!
The Orientation provided a chance to learn about the life cycle of Mountain Bluebirds and what to expect as a Trail Monitor. The three hour morning walkabout was an ideal opportunity to see a working trail, demonstrate technique with practical advice, and see some amazing sights along the way.
Bluebirds in the news!
We are thrilled whenever the topic of Bluebirds makes the news in our region! Here is a wonderful article about the Calgary and Area Nestbox Monitoring Society (CANMS) by Carol Patterson that provides an excellent overview of how being a Trail Monitor is a great activity for any age and any stage.
Trail Master’s Spring Report
Our society has approximately 2,660 nest boxes with more added as nest box trails are identified and added to the inventory. There are 103 trail monitors on record! Trail sizes are being reduced to 20 or 30 boxes each so more people can be involved.
President’s Spring Report
Spring is here and the bluebirds have returned. We are looking forward to another year of monitoring the trails! There were early sightings this year in the foothills in mid-March. Spring is a wonderful time of year as it brings brings us hope for the future and the anticipation of new things and a reminder of old familiar things.
Nest box spacing - Top Recommendations for Various Habitat Locations
Spacing is one of several factors to consider when you install a new nest box. The right spacing will help you maximize occupancy for Bluebirds while minimizing other occupants. It also enhances the habitat’s available resources, giving the Mountain Bluebirds who raise their young in the nest box with the best chance of success!
Virtual AGM a success!
Thank you to all participants who took part in our first ever virtual Annual General Meeting on ZOOM! There were 18 attendees that took part in conducting the necessary annual business of our Society for 2020.
First Bluebird of the season confirmed!
It has been confirmed - the bluebirds are back for another season! A bluebird was heard on March 8, International Women's Day, north of the Oldman Reservoir west of Fort Macleod.
Nest box placement - Top 7 Recommendations
Placement is one of several factors to consider when you install a new nest box. Where you put the nest box will help you minimize repairs or the need for replacement. It will also help provide the Mountain Bluebirds who raise their young in the nest box with the best chance of success!
Are your nest boxes ready for the season?
Mountain Bluebirds return to Southern Alberta as early as the first week of March. Male bluebirds select and lure a partner to a nesting site soon after they arrive. Nest boxes need to be cleaned out and repaired by the end of February in time for their arrival.
Trail Master’s Fall Report
We have about 2,623 MBT nest boxes. There are 101 monitors on record. The number of monitors is slowly increasing as the size of trails is being decreased. When someone retires, the large trails are split into trails of 25 -35 nest boxes. The trail size has been decreased to 20 or 30 to make looking after the nest boxes more of an outing than a chore.
President’s Fall Report
As I reported in the spring newsletter this year, I find myself once again sitting in my backyard on a beautiful sunny fall afternoon and like then, I am distracted by the events that surround us. It has now been roughly seven months since the onslaught of this world-wide pandemic. Like everywhere, we as a bluebird society were not exempt from its impact, but I must say we made every effort to carry on and do the best we could.
Welcome to new interim Webmaster
The torch for the Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society (MBTCS) is being passed! We welcome Curtis Goodman to the job. Over the past few years we have endeavoured to update our website and make it more interactive and useful to all the folks involved with and interested in bluebirds. I am pleased to tell you that we have found an excellent webmaster.
‘Avian Summer’ film released by MBTCS Trail Monitor
Avian Summer was filmed over the past two years by Rick Andrews, an active MBTCS Trail Monitor. The film features a number of scenes from Rick’s Mountain Bluebird Trail at Birds Eye Ranch, including interior nest box perspectives of the development of young bluebirds, from eggs to fledglings.
Spring Bluebird Trail Orientation a success!
Mountain Bluebird Trail Conservation Society (MBTCS) hosted the annual Trail Orientation on June 6, 2020 with 8 people in attendance. President Jim Leitch provided a tour of his Bluebird Trail in West Lethbridge. The three hour morning walkabout was an ideal opportunity to see a working trail, demonstrate technique, and see some amazing sights along the way.
Mountain Bluebird Learning Resources & Research
Thank you to all Bluebird enthusiasts for increasing our collective knowledge about these wonderful animals. Below is a select bibliography for this website. These references will help you to take your study of Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) to the next level. Please let us know about other great resources we can add to this page!