{"id":8865,"date":"2013-07-13T03:45:51","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T09:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=8865"},"modified":"2025-05-19T09:28:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T14:28:45","slug":"the-amazing-legacy-of-the-bluebird-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/07\/13\/the-amazing-legacy-of-the-bluebird-man\/","title":{"rendered":"The Amazing Legacy of the Bluebird Man"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FemaleFemale Mountain Bluebird with prey at the nest box – Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana<\/span><\/p>\n

I found out about Al Larson; aka The Bluebird Man<\/a><\/span>, through Neil Paprocki who is a Raptor Biology Master\u2019s student at Boise State University and the Scientific Director for Wild Lens Inc<\/a><\/span>., a 501(c)3 non-profit video production company focused on addressing wildlife conservation issues. At this time Wild Lens Inc. is producing a half-hour video about Al Larson, his amazing devotion to his Bluebird Trail in Idaho and his role in the recovery of North America’s bluebirds. For 35 years Al Larson has monitored bluebird nest boxes and banded over 27,000 bluebirds.<\/p>\n

I live in a city and don’t have bluebird boxes close to home but as a bird photographer I do travel to areas where bluebirds and nest boxes are abundant. I love catching sight of Mountain Bluebirds in flight, those brilliant\u00a0flashes of blue always catch my eyes. I can’t imagine this country without them and I am grateful for the people who place nest boxes, maintain them and collect valuable information about the bluebirds through observation and banding.<\/p>\n

I recently interviewed Neil about bluebirds, cavity nesters and about Al Larson; my favorite Bluebird Man, and wanted to share the interview with you all because I know that all of you are interested in birds, nature and conservation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mia<\/strong>: Neil, because of my bird photography I’m aware that Bluebirds, American Kestrels, some swallows and wrens are secondary cavity nesting birds, how many species are there that are secondary cavity nesters?<\/p>\n

Neil: <\/strong>There are roughly 80 species of cavity nesting birds of North America. Of these only a handful, namely the woodpeckers, are actually capable of excavating their own nesting cavities. The majority relies on other animals to create their nesting cavities for them: these are the secondary cavity nesters.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mia:<\/strong>\u00a0In the 1970’s bluebird populations were at an all time low in North America, those declines were in part caused by habitat destruction, pesticide use, dead tree removal, cats and the introduction of two extremely aggressive cavity nesting species, the European Starlings and House Sparrows. What role did nest boxes have in the reversal of bluebird declines in the 1970’s?<\/p>\n

Neil: <\/strong>Nest boxes helped to reverse population declines on a number of fronts. The first is that they helped restore the number of nesting cavities available to bluebirds that had been taken away by the removal of dead trees. The second is that by carefully constructing nest boxes people were able to reduce the amount of competition from introduced species.<\/em><\/p>\n

European Starlings are larger birds so by decreasing the size of the nest box opening people were able to prevent them from entering nest boxes. House Sparrows are a different sort of situation and still cause problems for bluebirds even today. House Sparrows are very aggressive birds and will out-compete bluebirds for cavities at every opportunity. You can read more about House Sparrow control<\/a><\/span> at the North American Bluebird Society<\/a><\/span> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mia:<\/strong>\u00a0If people want to become involved with their local bluebird trails or other nest box programs how could they go about locating those organizations?<\/p>\n

Neil: <\/strong>You can get involved in bluebird preservation projects by contacting your local Audubon or Bluebird Society chapter. You can visit the Audubon Society<\/a><\/span> and North American Bluebird Society<\/a><\/span> websites for your local affiliates contact information. Go and check out another person\u2019s bluebird project before deciding if this is something you really want to do. But I will warn you, it is very easy to get hooked and addicted to watching bluebirds!<\/em><\/p>\n

Mia:<\/strong>\u00a0I normally notice bluebird nest boxes along country roads, fence posts in rural settings, green spaces and in parks but I rarely notice them in the backyards of people who live in cities, why is that? What locations or habitats are optimal for bluebird nest box placement?<\/p>\n

Neil: <\/strong>Bluebirds prefer their nesting cavities near open areas because they readily forage for insects along the ground. Optimal habitats for bluebird nest box placement are locations near open fields, parks, or other habitats devoid of dense tree cover.<\/em><\/p>\n

The reason you don\u2019t see many bluebird boxes in cities is because there is a general lack of open space. By placing a bluebird box in an urban setting lacking open space you may be inviting in House Sparrows. There are other options for us urban dwellers however. Many put up nest boxes with smaller openings for Chickadees and House Wrens that keep House Sparrows out but provide great nesting habitat for other native cavity nesters.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mia:<\/strong>\u00a0As a bird photographer I realize that nest boxes can offer me opportunities to photograph, observe and study secondary cavity nesters which provides me with a great way to connect to these birds, do they also contribute ways for other people to connect with them?<\/p>\n

Neil:<\/strong> It is funny that you mention this Mia, because that is precisely why the subject of our film Al Larson began putting up nest boxes in the late 1970s: as a way to conveniently photograph bluebirds! That was just the gateway to a 35-year connection he has developed with these birds though.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Nest boxes are great because it gives you a location where you know birds are going to nest. This allows you the unique opportunity to introduce birds and bird conservation to people who have never seen a bird up close, or never taken the time to notice them. Having witnessed this first hand, it is amazing how captivated people are to see birds so close, especially baby birds in a nest box!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

When people can see that connection for themselves, it ends up being something that sticks with them for a long time.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Mia:\u00a0<\/strong>Could you tell me what you think we can learn from Al Larson’s life story and 35 year commitment to bluebirds? He seems like such a fascinating man and his devotion to the bluebirds is highly admirable.<\/p>\n

Neil:<\/strong> Many people think you need to be a scientist with an advanced degree to study birds. Well this is simply not the case and Al is a perfect example of this.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

While Al ended up getting his GED later in life, his formal education ended after the 8th grade. Nevertheless, he knows more about the intimate habits of bluebirds than anyone I have ever met. He is a hardworking \u2018everyman\u2019, and just goes to show anyone can pursue the things they love.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

He wanted to study and help out the bluebirds, so he just did it. He took great care while doing so, and did his do-diligence to research how to take care of nest boxes, but anyone willing to put in the work and commitment could do what Al has done. He is truly an inspiration.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Mia:<\/strong>\u00a0I am a huge supporter of controlling pests naturally, does providing nest boxes for secondary cavity nesters help with natural pest control near the boxes?<\/p>\n

Neil:<\/strong> While I don\u2019t think anyone has come up with a solution to the problem of introduced pests such as European Starlings and House Sparrows, I do think having bluebird boxes around your property can at least help control insect pests.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Bluebirds are insectivores and I have personally seen them bring every type of insect you can think of back to the nest. In one morning at a particular box, I saw ma and pa bluebird bring back more than 10 cicadas to their nestlings. That seems like a great natural pest control to me.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I have no direct evidence for this, but I would imagine having a bluebird box around your garden at home could be a great thing as well. Bluebirds forage for insects on the ground and I bet they would go to town on a lot of those that infest our vegetable gardens every year.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Mia:<\/strong>\u00a0Other than their obvious beauty why are bluebirds so charismatic? What about all the other cavity nesters?<\/p>\n

Neil:<\/strong> Certainly the beauty of bluebirds is a huge reason behind why they are so charismatic. I think another reason is because North America is the only continent on earth that has bluebirds. There are only three species of bluebird and they are found only in our backyards, pretty neat!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

That being said, each and every cavity nester is special and unique in it\u2019s own way. From the massive and triumphant Pileated Woodpeckers to the cute and tiny Pygmy Nuthatch, nest boxes can help provide many cavity nesters with additional nesting habitat.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Mia:<\/strong>\u00a0It seems to me that monitoring and maintaining nest boxes after they are put up would be important, can you explain why?<\/p>\n

Neil:<\/strong> This is extremely important for a variety of reasons, and is probably just as, if not more important than actually putting up the nest box itself. The main reason we need to maintain our nest boxes is to help keep predators and introduced species out. One of the best ways to keep House Sparrows out of nest boxes is to clean out their nests before they get established.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Another reason nest box maintenance is crucial is because birds actually build nests within the boxes. If boxes were not cleaned out after each breeding season, they would soon fill up with nesting material, making them unusable for future generations. In order to keep this nesting habitat available to the birds we have to take care of them.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Mia:<\/strong>\u00a0After Mr. Larson is unable to maintain his bluebird trail, what are the next steps to ensuring that his (and all the other bluebird trail maintainers) legacy of environmental stewardship is continued?<\/p>\n

Neil:<\/strong> This is precisely what I am trying to accomplish with our new film Bluebird Man<\/a><\/span>. In order to ensure that this fantastic conservation success story continues, we must inspire the next generation of \u2018bluebirders\u2019. Our film will help educate those people who don\u2019t know much about birds but might be able to connect with Al\u2019s story.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Bluebird Man<\/strong> will also help inspire bird enthusiasts to do something more. Humans have already shaped the world in ways we never imagined, and we are all now responsible for preserving it\u2019s future for years to come. What legacy do we want to leave for our children or grandchildren? I hope this film can play a tiny role in leaving behind a positive legacy of environmental stewardship for the next generation.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Mountain Bluebird with prey at nest box\u00a0– Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana<\/span><\/p>\n

Neil and I had a wonderful phone conversation about bluebirds and where we have seen them, my images on this post were all taken at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge<\/a><\/span> in southwestern Montana, a location many of you who read my blog know as one of my favorite locations.<\/p>\n

\"JuvenileJuvenile Mountain Bluebird on a fence – Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana<\/span><\/p>\n

Neil spent last weekend in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of eastern Oregon where he found two natural nest cavities occupied by Mountain Bluebirds.<\/p>\n

There is a short clip with Al Larson talking about his Bluebird Trail on this page<\/a><\/span> that I hope you will watch because you’ll get to “meet”\u00a0the Bluebird Man. Personally I can’t wait to see the final movie!<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Downy Woodpecker – A primary cavity nester – Capitol Reef National Park, Utah<\/span><\/p>\n

There simply aren’t enough natural cavities for secondary cavity nesting birds and nest boxes; though man-made, have helped secondary cavity nesting birds make a come back and that is thanks to Al Larson and other people and organizations who create, maintain and monitor Bluebird Trails.\u00a0 I know that when I lived in the country I would leave dead trees standing in my yard if they weren’t a safety concern because I hoped the Pileated, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers would create natural cavities where I could observe them and hoped that later some Eastern Bluebirds would nest in them too. I did have a few pairs of Eastern Bluebirds raise young in the nest boxes I provided.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Tree Swallow with nesting material – A secondary cavity nester – Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana<\/span><\/p>\n

I want to thank Neil Paprocki for sharing information about Al Larson and the upcoming film The Bluebird Man, I have learned a lot from the web site and through my interview with Neil and I am all\u00a0for learning more about the wonderful natural world around me.<\/p>\n

Al Larson’s story and his legacy should be shared now and with future generations.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my bird photos in their galleries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I want to thank Neil Paprocki for sharing information about Al Larson and the upcoming film The Bluebird Man, I have learned a lot from the web site and through my interview with Neil and I am all for learning more about the wonderful natural world around me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":145085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1513,27,1427,223,2152,2142,12,1369,608,2171,26],"tags":[4004,2280,5933,2278,4880,4897,3720,988,193,2143,4070,834,4071,228,519,2279,9662,4182,4106,4894,4339,4807,3470,4377,5458,1523,9324,4777,2146,4193],"class_list":["post-8865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beaverhead-county-montana","category-avian","category-capitol-reef-national-park-utah","category-centennial-valley","category-conservation","category-downy-woodpeckers","category-montana","category-mountain-bluebirds","category-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","category-tree-swallows","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-al-larson","tag-bluebird","tag-bluebird-trails","tag-bluebirds","tag-branch","tag-cavity-nesters","tag-conservation","tag-downy-woodpecker","tag-dryobates-pubescens","tag-female","tag-fence-rail","tag-juvenile","tag-mountain-bluebird","tag-nature","tag-nest-box","tag-nesting-box","tag-nesting-material","tag-prey","tag-secondary-cavity-nesters","tag-sialia-currucoides","tag-swallow","tag-swallows","tag-tachycineta-bicolor","tag-the-bluebird-man","tag-tree-swallow","tag-wooden-rail","tag-woodpecker","tag-woodpeckers","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-female-nest-box-prey-mia-mcpherson-9124.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-2iZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8607,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/06\/16\/a-mountain-bluebird-tribute-to-fathers\/","url_meta":{"origin":8865,"position":0},"title":"Mountain Bluebird Tribute to Fathers","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday my post focused on female Mountain Bluebirds and today I am presenting males in honor of Father's Day. I was blessed to have two fathers, one who died when I was very young and later in my second Dad came into my life.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Mountain Bluebird in a stiff wind, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-male-montana-mia-mcpherson-2168.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-male-montana-mia-mcpherson-2168.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-male-montana-mia-mcpherson-2168.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-male-montana-mia-mcpherson-2168.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8600,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/06\/15\/female-mountain-bluebirds-in-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":8865,"position":1},"title":"Female Mountain Bluebirds in Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 15, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"There were Mountain Bluebirds everywhere I looked on my recent trip to Montana where flashes of their brilliant blue plumage were a delight to my eyes.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mountain Bluebird female with prey for her young, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-female-prey-mia-mcpherson-7085.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-female-prey-mia-mcpherson-7085.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-female-prey-mia-mcpherson-7085.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-female-prey-mia-mcpherson-7085.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46558,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/05\/03\/sapsuckers-bluebirds-and-nuthatches-and-the-magical-sapsucker-tree\/","url_meta":{"origin":8865,"position":2},"title":"Sapsuckers, Bluebirds and Nuthatches and the Magical Sapsucker Tree","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 3, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Two years ago today I was in the Targhee National Forest of Clark County, Idaho photographing birds at what I called the \"Magical Sapsucker Tree\".","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Williamson's Sapsucker on a tree with three nesting cavities showing, Targhee National Forest, Clark County, Idaho","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/williamsons-sapsucker-male-nesting-tree-mia-mcpherson-7075.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/williamsons-sapsucker-male-nesting-tree-mia-mcpherson-7075.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/williamsons-sapsucker-male-nesting-tree-mia-mcpherson-7075.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4663,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/03\/21\/mountain-bluebird-male\/","url_meta":{"origin":8865,"position":3},"title":"Mountain Bluebird Male","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"How blue can blue be? I think Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoide) males are a wonderful example of just how blue a bird can be.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Mountain Bluebird, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-male-mia-mcpherson-5375.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-male-mia-mcpherson-5375.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-male-mia-mcpherson-5375.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-male-mia-mcpherson-5375.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37342,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/03\/24\/mountain-bluebird-plumage-development-stages\/","url_meta":{"origin":8865,"position":4},"title":"Mountain Bluebird Plumage Development Stages","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"These images from different times of the year show Mountain Bluebird plumage development stages from not long after fledging to adulthood.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Perched juvenile Mountain Bluebird, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-7094.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-7094.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-7094.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-7094.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34886,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/01\/16\/a-mountain-bluebird-chick-in-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":8865,"position":5},"title":"Mountain Bluebird chick in Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This young Mountain Bluebird chick was photographed last summer at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Montana.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Mountain Bluebird chick in Montana at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in the Centennial Valley","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-5597.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-5597.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-5597.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mountain-bluebird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-5597.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8865"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8865\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/145085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}