Male Mountain Bluebird perched in an elderberry – Nikon D500, f8, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I know that whenever I see Mountain Bluebirds I get excited, they are a delight to see perched, flying around or feeding their young. I also know I am not the only one fascinated by these bright blue birds, people write poems and songs about bluebirds, plus new birders, bird photographers and children can easily identify them and people talk about their lovely songs and calls. Three species of bluebirds enchant and excite people from the East to the West Coasts of North America. They are Eastern, Western and Mountain Bluebirds. I have a tea kettle on my kitchen counter that my maternal grandmother painted an Eastern Bluebird on, they were among her favorite subjects to paint.
Our current climate crisis could mean Utah might lose our Mountain Bluebirds and it is not just us, it is Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming that will also be affected if action isn’t taken now.
Female Mountain Bluebird checking out a nesting cavity – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 2.4x TC, natural light
The thing is that this year I have seen fewer Mountain Bluebirds than I saw last season. In places where I saw and heard quite a few of these bluebirds last nesting season I am not hearing their calls, I am not seeing the flashes of blue that I used to see and when I have seen them they are seen in fewer numbers.
Desertification caused by climate change will have a severe impact on these beautiful birds. They will have to move and adapt. What if they can’t?
Male Mountain Bluebird with his chicks – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Some people may consider the California Gulls I wrote about yesterday as “pests” but I’ve never heard anyone say that about bluebirds because people find them so charismatic. Are they charismatic enough to make people think “we can’t lose them” to climate change?
According to National Audubon if no action is taken on our climate crisis 78% of Mountain Bluebird summer range in Utah will be lost and 22% of their winter range here will be gone too.
I know that many of my friends and family care. I know that people who connect with nature care but that isn’t enough. The government on the state and federal levels need to wake up and care right now because what is good for the birds is good for us.
Standing up for nature is fighting for our lives. It really is as simple as that.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mountain Bluebird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Sigh. And it isn’t just your government wedded to its destructive (and in the short term) profitable ways.
I think I was in New Mexico when ai first saw a whole bush full of these incredibly beautiful birds…I remember being absolutely stunned by the almost magical beauty if what I was seeing….
We have a few things we can do to help wildlife and people:
1) plant native plants — so birds that ARE around have enough to eat http://bringingnaturehome.net/
2) donate to organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity as the current administration attempts to destroy America’s natural wealth and public lands
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/climate/endangered-species-act-changes.html
3) Get Out The Vote – GOTV — for Democrats at every level of government, from President and Congress to dogcatcher. Swingleft.org is one group that makes it easy!
AMEN!!!
Some people just don’t care about wildlife or realize that what happens to wildlife will eventually happen to humans. They just don’t get it.
Couldn’t agree more!
Saw my first several in Yellowstone, absolutely beautiful bird.