JACKSON, Wyo. — If a streak of blue is seen amongst all the melting snow, it could be the return of the mountain bluebird.
Mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) are among the first nesting songbirds to return to the Greater Yellowstone area each spring, around mid-March. Their song marks the spring equinox and a welcome change after the long winter.
According to the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF), this species of bluebird is believed to be on the decline in the West due to habitat loss and competition for limited cavity nests from invasive species like house sparrows and European starlings. Bluebirds nest in small cavities in trees, small cliffs and artificial nesting boxes. They often return to the same nests, accumulating the same nesting materials year after year.
By returning when the ground is largely still snow covered, bluebirds risk exposure to lack of food and cold temperatures, but gain an advantage over rival species when it comes to snagging limited nesting sites, according to the JHWF. Volunteer-built nestboxes on the National Elk Refuge’s western boundary provide nesting locations, and allow scientists to gain a more complete understanding of the overall health of this sub-population. During nesting it is important not to approach too closely as it is possible to disrupt them to the point of them abandoning their eggs or young.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, mountain bluebirds live in the western half of North America, and their annual migration covers thousands of miles, over several mountain ranges and, in some cases, several countries. Some stay in Jackson Hole for the summer, while others continue farther north into Canada to nest.
After bluebirds nest in the spring, and the young have fledged, the birds form small hunting flocks later in the summer. The species can often be seen perching on the edge of open areas. From their perch, they watch for insects and spiders to eat. According to Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris, one of the best places to see bluebirds is the open fields and grass land at Elk Ranch and Antelope Flats in Grand Teton National Park. There are often several occupied nests around Mormon Row, especially the northern homestead with the pink house and the Moose Wilson Road.
Last year, the JHWF asked community members to participate in mountain bluebird resighting data collection by reporting bluebirds with visible colored leg bands, or “bluebirds with bling.” According to JHWF, mountain bluebirds have been banded in Jackson Hole with unique series of USGS aluminum color bands since 2017, in order to help identify if the species is successfully returning to Jackson Hole from their migration to their nestbox.
Bird watching enthusiasts are to remember to keep a respectable distance.
