Juvenile Mountain Bluebird perched in a Chokecherry tree – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When I was looking for the House Wren photos I shared yesterday I came across a folder that contained images I had taken in the Wasatch Mountains which are closer to home than the Uinta Mountains where I photographed the wrens. As I looked through the image files I decided to process one of the images of a young Mountain Bluebird to share here today.
Last year wasn’t a great for photographing Mountain Bluebirds in many of the locations where I had photographed them before. They simply weren’t there in the numbers that they had been in previous breeding seasons. We did have a cold, wet, and late spring thaw in the mountains and that may have affected the bluebirds high in the Wasatch Mountains but I also saw fewer Mountain Bluebirds in other locations.
Our current climate crisis could mean Utah might lose our Mountain Bluebirds, 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 hope that when the snow in the Wasatch Mountains melts this spring and the trees begin to leaf out that I will see the Mountain Bluebirds return to the places where I have seen them in large numbers in previous breeding seasons. I also hope that their absence last year was just a fluke caused by the bad late spring weather.
This juvenile Mountain Bluebird was photographed as it perched in a chokecherry tree not far from a dirt road up in the mountains in June of 2018. An adult male and several of its siblings were also nearby. While I photographed this juvenile bluebird it called softly and begged the adult male for food.
I can’t imagine not seeing these beautiful Mountain Bluebirds feeding, breeding and raising their young in the mountains that are close to where I live. We need to take care of our planet.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mountain Bluebird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Young or adult, these birds make me catch my breath…they are so beautiful!
What’s happening in Australia, a country I!ve always wanted to visit, hurts almost as much as if I was there…so much treasure lost…in such a terrible, terrible way…my hearts aches.
Patty, thank you.
I’ve been to Australia twice and the beauty I saw there was profound and my heart is aching too.
Nice image of the youngster! So sad that the Mountain Bluebirds are facing such a crisis.
Thanks Ken, it really is sad. We need leaders who care and work on environmental issues.
I just realized that the bird my friend and I saw a few years ago, but could not identify, was a juvenile Mountain Bluebird.
I’m glad my post helped with the ID!
I observed the same thing in Island Park last year. We have 7 nest boxes on our road, only one box was used. The nest box on our property that had been used by Bluebirds since we put it up had a failed nest the year before and no nest this past year. And unfortunately the Mountain Bluebird nest trail along the road to Red Rocks has been severely vandalized and appears to not be maintained. I don’t understand people and their complete lack of care of the environment in which they live.
Deb, it breaks my heart to hear that the bluebird boxes at Red Rocks have been vandalized and are in disrepair. I don’t understand that either.
We do indeed need to take care of our planet. MUCH better care than we currently do. I am currently watching flames swallow yet another area of our native wildlife’s habitat (and lives). I grieve. I despair. I rage.
I’m raging with you EC, from far away, but I am.
Hi Mia,
I just read an article by Joanna McKittrick (UC San Diego) and Jae-Young Jung (UC San Francisco), Jan. 31, titled, “How do woodpeckers avoid brain injury”.
The article appeared online in a publication I subscribe to, called, The Conversation, Us.newsletter@theconversation.com.
I enjoyed reading the article and thought you might enjoy reading it, too.
Steve Booth
Thanks Steven, I had read something about this but perhaps not the same article.
I use to see more of these, but I fear their aspen habitat in my area was sick then removed.
Quite a few aspen stands have gotten sick.
Love bluebird’s, hope for their survival.
Wonderful photos, Mia
Thank you Bob, I hope for their survival too
One of my favorite birds! Your March 24, 2016 posting with a series of bluebird photos is terrific! Hope you cross paths again with them this Spring!
Thanks Lynnette, I do too!