Mountain Bluebird Gathering In Full Swing

Be It Enacted
by the
Legislature
of the
State of Idaho:

Section 1

That the mountain bluebird
(Sialia arctcia)
is hereby
designated and declared
to be the state bird
of the State of Idaho.

With that declaration Feb. 28, 1931, during the 21st Session of the State Legislature, one of the most striking birds became the state bird of Idaho.

As the temperatures are dropping, these remarkable birds are gathering in large flocks for their migration south. In my travels the past few weeks I have seen them on Henry’s Lake Flat, Sand Creek, Camas National Wildlife Refuge and Moody Creek.

The bright blue plumage of the male mountain bluebird makes it one of the most recognizable birds of this area. The female is less recognizable with a grey breast, head and back, mixed with bluish tint on the tail and wings, though it is a dainty beauty to match its soft voice.

As with all birds, habitat determines the number of birds in an area. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, bluebird numbers increased with the increase in logging and grazing activities in the West.

The male mountain bluebird will pick out a nest site and then will try to attract a female to nest with him. The more attractive the site, the more successful the chase and conquest.

With most of their diet being insects, during the 1970s as pesticide use increased, their numbers decreased by an estimated 70 percent. Birders as well as some government agencies became concerned about the effect of pesticides on all species of birds including the mountain bluebird.

Also, being cavity nesters, but with a small weak beak, bluebirds have to use old woodpecker holes or natural cavities in trees for nesting when nest boxes are not available. They have to compete with European Starlings and Tree Swallows for natural cavities.

In 1973 Montana, Art Aylesworth began to fix this problem by putting out five nest boxes for them. His dream was to bring back the bluebird population he enjoyed as a youngster. This dream grew into a group of over 600 members of the Mountain Bluebird Trails Inc.

Members are encouraged to build nest boxes for bluebirds and set up nest box trails for bluebird use. One of these trails has been established around Henry’s Lake where the population of mountain bluebirds has increased over the last few years.

The group’s goals are to “conduct educational programs, distribute educational materials, collecting and sharing nest box data, and aiding in the development of nest box trails.”

Over the past 10 years over 176,750 fledging bluebirds have been recorded in Montana alone and bluebirds can now be found in all 56 counties in that state. The association provides nest box patterns and information on how and where nests should be placed.

In some nest boxes, pairs of mountain bluebirds have been recorded raising four broods during a single summer. Nest boxes have been very instrumental in increasing the number of bluebirds where nest box trails have been established.

Watching nest boxes can be very entertaining. Last summer I watched as swallows and the bluebirds fought over a nest box and I also observed a pair raise two broods in the same nest box. Their habits and activities were very entertaining.

Information about Mountain Bluebird Trails Inc. can be found here. Go check it out. The Idaho state bird can still use some help.