Mountain Bluebirds, the ideal farm tenant
Mountain Bluebirds are great neighbours! The return of their bright blue feathers are a welcome sign of spring. In Southern Alberta they are usually migrating back by mid-March, traveling in flocks of up to 50 birds or more. When they are perched on a fence line they look like brilliant cerulean-blue jewels.
The Mountain Bluebird is a medium-sized bird, similar to a Robin as a member of the Thrush family. Adult males have thin bills and are bright turquoise-blue and somewhat lighter underneath. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back.
Providing nest box habitat for Mountain Bluebirds has been an important part of the work of the Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society (MBTCS) for the past 48 years. MBTCS members are passionate about studying, conserving, and restoring the natural range of Mountain Bluebirds across Southern Alberta; they are members of one of many bluebird-focused organizations across North America.
The presence of bluebirds are an absolute delight!
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.
Nest boxes designed for Mountain Bluebirds are excellent additions to farm fence lines. Males will arrive first to establish territory and prepare to attract a mate through beautiful birdsong and exuberant flight displays that may last hours. Females who find a suitable mate will then help to establish the nest. Together they will raise up to two broods with up to nine eggs in each clutch. The pair will work throughout the spring and summer to meet the voracious appetite of their growing family.
Some of our best nest boxes have had decades of use. A quality built nest box will last a long time with the right annual maintenance. The hole is a crucial design aspect, one of many considerations needed for construction of a Mountain Bluebird nest box. The hole should be exactly 1 9/16“ in diameter. Once built, nest boxes are best spaced at least 200 metres apart.
Ideal placement is next to native grassland, pasture, or mowed lawns. Avoid areas close to buildings or fields that are sprayed with pesticides and herbicides. Boxes should not be placed near farmsteads where bluebirds could become prey to cats. The nest box opening should be placed away from the prevailing winds - in Southern Alberta this would normally be southeast or northwest. Nearby fences, trees, and bushes provide the birds with perching sites and important cover for the young when they fledge.
For the 110+ Trail Monitors who volunteer as part of the Mountain Bluebirds Trails Conservation Society, they help to maintain a network of 2,700+ nest boxes across Southern Alberta. They have helped to reverse the decline of Mountain Bluebirds since 1974 and the results have been encouraging.
Bird banding programs suggest that successful breeding bluebirds will return to the same area or nest site each year. Trail Monitors have a great opportunity to get to know their neighbours through regular biweekly inspection of the nest boxes from March through August. It is a great experience for families to work together and witness the cycle of life while also contributing to conservation. Watching eggs appear and develop into nestlings and fledglings is truly a delight for anyone.
Of course, bi-weekly checks are not required, as the bluebirds are self-sufficient outside of bi-annual nest box clean-outs in early February and late August. The natural pest control they offer is a real bonus in return!
Want to take action to help MBTCS?
Make a charitable donation to support our efforts; add 20% to your tax-deductible donation with ATB Cares! 100% of donations go directly to bluebird nesting habitat enhancement across Southern Alberta.
We encourage you to get involved as a member - you can sign up to receive our bi-annual newsletter, or you can register as a Trail Monitor to get involved in the work of nest box placement, maintenance, and restoration.
MBTCS is also always in need of assistance with building nest boxes. This is the perfect high school shop class or service club project.
If you are interested in learning more about Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society, plan to attend the annual Spring Orientation on the first Saturday of June. This is a great opportunity to meet other members, ask questions, and share experiences with bluebird nest boxes.
Explore our website BluebirdTrails.org for information that will help you establish your own Bluebird Trail - from blueprints to the best recommendations based on the results of four decades of tried and true experience.
MBTCS offers support in maintaining a healthy and productive Mountain Bluebird Trail. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to learn more and do their part for our wonderful bluebird neighbours!
This article was written by Curtis Goodman for the Lethbridge County’s Rural Living & Ag Extension Newsletter, published March 2022. Download full newsletter.
This article was also published in Quirk Magazine as ‘Mountain Bluebirds are the Ideal Neighbour’’ Quirk Magazine | April 2022 Issue