The Western Bluebird returns…

I photographed my first Western Bluebird 3 or 4 years ago. A blurry, out of focus photo taken from too far away with a 55-200 mm zoom lens that clearly wasn’t up to the task. It was a bluebird nonetheless, and enough to get me completely hooked. I’ve dedicated lots of time and energy ever since studying these beautiful birds hoping to better capture them in all their bluish/purple glory. I’ve been fortunate enough to document their annual arrival in recent years, so I hope this post gives you an appreciation for why the Western Bluebird is among my favorite songbirds…..

Male Western bluebird arrives in the Spring and surveys his surroundings from the nearest perch. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. April, 2021. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is ii

Bluebirds migrate south over the Winter months, and return in the Spring to scout for a mate and begin surveying potential nesting sites. They prefer to nest in small tree cavities (typically a hole left behind by an industrious Woodpecker) or man-made nesting boxes.

Newly “shacked-up” , this female (l) and male (r) begin looking for real estate. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. April, 2021. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is ii

Once a nesting site’s been established, the pair immediately get to work building a nest for the eggs that will soon come. The female lays an egg a day for up to a week or so, at which point she begins sitting on the clutch. Meanwhile, the male busies himself catching more bugs than normal and aggressively defending his territory from all-comers regardless of size, shape or color!

Female (top) and male Western Bluebirds seem pretty happy with their choice of nest box for the season. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. May, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is iiOnce the eggs hatch, both parents begin working overtime constantly catching and delivering food back to the nesting box. There’s no safe place if you’re a spider, grasshopper, or other small insect. Bluebirds prefer live bugs, and aren’t typically seen at seed feeders in your yard. They require a well protected area to live as well as open space to hunt. Protected tree-lines with fenceposts adjacent to open meadows or fields are ideal. — *Female (top) and male Western Bluebirds seem pretty happy with their choice of nest box for the season. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. May, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is ii*
Once the eggs hatch, both parents begin working overtime constantly catching and delivering food back to the nesting box. There’s no safe place if you’re a spider, grasshopper, or other small insect. Bluebirds prefer live bugs, and aren’t typically seen at seed feeders in your yard. They require a well protected area to live as well as open space to hunt. Protected tree-lines with fenceposts adjacent to open meadows or fields are ideal.

*Male bluebird finds a comfy spot and waits for his turn to deliver a juicy spider to the newborns. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. May, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is ii*

Male bluebird perches on a rake handle with a less-than-fortunate ant. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. May, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is iiThe moment we’ve all been waiting for! As newborns prepare to leave the nest, mom and dad start to “encourage” them by visiting the nest box less and less frequently. The parents may be seen hanging out on nearby fenceposts trying to entice the timid babies. — *Male bluebird perches on a rake handle with a less-than-fortunate ant. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. May, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is ii*
The moment we’ve all been waiting for! As newborns prepare to leave the nest, mom and dad start to “encourage” them by visiting the nest box less and less frequently. The parents may be seen hanging out on nearby fenceposts trying to entice the timid babies.

*Western bluebird chick cautiously contemplates leaving the nest box. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. July, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is ii*

Newly fledged (and very fluffy) Western bluebird chick already displaying some of that trademark blue coloring. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. August, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is iiThis years bluebird season comes to a close with these parents raising two different clutches of eggs for a total of nine new bluebird babies now out in the world! Here’s hoping for a new pair of bluebirds next Spring! If you would like to learn more about bluebirds, I highly encourage you to check out the North American Bluebird Society which can be found at http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org — Newly fledged (and very fluffy) Western bluebird chick already displaying some of that trademark blue coloring. Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. August, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is ii
This years bluebird season comes to a close with these parents raising two different clutches of eggs for a total of nine new bluebird babies now out in the world! Here’s hoping for a new pair of bluebirds next Spring! If you would like to learn more about bluebirds, I highly encourage you to check out the North American Bluebird Society which can be found at http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org

*Western bluebird pair (female in foreground). Trout Lake, Wa. Klickitat County. August, 2020. Canon EOS 80D, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l is ii*

Full circle….

Welcome….