Spring Surprises: Trail Monitors share late spring observations

As spring transitions into summer, our Mountain Bluebird Trail Conservation Society (MBTCS) Trail Monitors continue to closely observe local bird populations.

The spring weather and its effects have sparked a lively conversation among our board members, and we're excited to share these observations with you. We also invite you to share your perspective in the comments below.

Sherri Bohnert, MBTCS Director, initially raised an interesting question about potential predation. “Is anyone else seeing quite a few bluebird deaths before fledging, some looking very mature? Wondering if predation on parents?”

Steven Shumborski, MBTCS Trail Master, reported that the late spring cold and snow are likely responsible for the dead birds observed at Police Lake, Waterton, Beauvais Lake, and Lundbreck. “Fortunately, the Porcupine Hills seemed to have escaped the worst of the weather,” he noted.

MBTCS President Jim Leitch also noticed an alarming trend. “I had two boxes with dead young. Then in the last week of June, I found an entire family of five fully matured bluebirds all dead with their mouths gaping open like they starved to death.”

Barb Glen, MBTCS Secretary, shared her observations from her trail near Pearce, west of Monarch. “On my trail, I am disappointed to report only one nesting pair this spring, with one bluebird fledged. Most other boxes are occupied by tree swallows, who seem to be having a wonderful year, with up to seven eggs in various boxes. Usually, I have more bluebirds.”

Not all the news was grim. Kathy Koenig, MBTCS Treasurer, was relieved by what she found. “I was really worried about what today would bring when I went out on my trail. I am happy to report that I only had two dead young—one of which I was expecting. I also have two boxes with second broods going!”

Sherri also shared some delightful moments while monitoring her bluebird trail. “The first box caught my attention with three-flowered aven blooming with lupins. We had lupins in full bloom outside our house for the first year since planting two years ago.”

The late spring observations from our MBTCS Trail Monitors paint a mixed picture of the season’s impact on local bird populations and ecosystems.

While some areas experienced significant bird deaths due to the cold and snow, other regions like the Porcupine Hills showed resilience.

These reports highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring, sharing results and building understanding about Mountain Bluebirds.

We encourage everyone following along to share their own observations and experiences in the comments section below - whether you are in Southern Alberta or located anywhere along the Mountain Bluebird’s range.

We also remind our Trail Monitors to continue to take good notes while visiting your trail and remember to submit your final report for the season when requested by our Trail Master.

Your insights are invaluable in helping us understand the success of our efforts.