Information for Trail Monitors
Mountain Bluebirds return to Southern Alberta as early as the first week of March. Male bluebirds select and lure a partner to a nesting site soon after they arrive. Nest boxes need to be cleaned out and repaired by the end of February in time for their arrival.
As a Mountain Bluebird Trails Monitor you agree to help MBTCS’s effort to assist bluebirds by providing nesting sites in the form of clean, well-maintained nest boxes. You will help locate nesting boxes in appropriate bluebird habitat, monitor the nest boxes on a regular basis, and submit the nesting information for each box on your trail.
The data collected is used by MBTCS to provide baseline information on how our nest boxes are affecting the Southern Alberta bluebird population As a Trail Monitor, your responsibility to MBTCS is to maintain your trail of nest boxes. When you are no longer willing or able to look after your trail, please let the Trail Master know as soon as possible so they can find a new Monitor for the trail. If you know someone who is interested in taking over your trail or becoming an MBTCS Trail Monitor, send their contact information to the Trail Master.
Legal Considerations
In Canada it is illegal to disturb, destroy, or take a nest, egg, or shelter of a migratory bird, or to have in your possession a live migratory bird or a carcass, skin, nest or egg of a migratory bird except under authority of a Special Permit.
You are responsible for reviewing and understanding legislation prior to undertaking activities.
You are also responsible to adhere to the landowner’s requirements if your Trail is on private land. They may require that you contact them prior to each visit. Leave gates open or closed just the way you find them when you enter and when you leave.
Annual Time Table for Trail Monitors
February
remove old nests and clean, repair or replace nest boxes (if required)
check mounting of each nest box to ensure it is secured properly
inventory each nest box – locate using a GPS (if you don’t have a GPS contact the Trail Master and make arrangements to complete)
install predator guards if required to keep out raccoons
unplug all drainage and ventilation holes
March through August
conduct regular nest box inspections to collect nest data (ideally, every two weeks)
remove house sparrows and their nest, move the nest box if they persist
if you capture a banded bird in the nest box, make note of band numbers
remove any weeds or tall grass around nest box to deter snakes
September
final nest box inspection
remove all nests and record information on any remaining eggs or dead birds
repair or replace nest boxes if required
winterize boxes - drop box bottom if you know you are able to close it by March of the following year
compile data for each box on your Trail
Submit your Annual Summary to MBTCS by September 1!
Mountain Bluebird Life Cycle
Nest building - 1 to 6 days
Egg laying - 5 to 7 days (expect 4-6 eggs)
Incubation - 12 to 15 days
Nestling - 17 to 22 days
Fledgling - 21 to 28 days
Two broods may be possible per season
Expected life span - 4 to 6 years, oldest on record is 10 years, 5 months
Health & Safety Reminders for Trail Monitors
You are responsible for your safety.
Take necessary precautions, plan BEFORE you go.
Remember:
ALWAYS let someone know exactly where you are going and how long you plan to be there!
Avoid unnecessary risks
Check the weather forecast
Have supplies and personal protective equipment
If mice are present do not allow the dust to blow into your face. Spray down the box with a bleach water solution before removing their nest and leave the lid off
Bring a first aid kit
Take a fully charged cell phone
Do not drive through tall dry grass/brush as it may inadvertently start a wildfire
Be mindful of your surroundings
Safety First - Always!
Keep in mind, there are real risks associated with volunteering as a Trail Monitor. With adequate preparation and mindfulness, you can successfully manage and mitigate harm, as well as the possibility of things going wrong. We encourage everyone to do their research, use common sense, understand the value of personal protective equipment, and engage in pre-task hazard assessments for personal safety.
“Be prepared!”
The information contained on our website is not necessarily complete or up to date. Readers are encouraged to thoroughly read all pages on this site and do further research on the subject for their own benefit. MBTCS is always willing to update, add to, and share information that is helpful to our members. Please let us know about any errors or omissions. IF you have questions, please ask. Thank you for looking out for yourself and others!
Recommended Equipment Lists for Trail Monsitors
Be prepared anytime you visit your Nest Box Trail.
List of Supplies for a Trail Pack:
Trail Map
Cell phone
Water bottle
Lunch & snacks
Hat & sunglasses
Proper clothing (light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and long pants)
Sturdy footwear
Leatherman tool or comparable
Pocket knife
Leather work gloves
Pencils and felt pens
Field notebook
Camera
Binoculars
First aid kit
Medications (EpiPen)
Bug repellent
Ziploc bags
Disposable gloves
Disposable disinfecting hand wipes
HEPA face mask
Supplies for Annual Clean-Up & Repairs
Everything from the List of Supplies for a Trail Pack
Replacement nest boxes
Hammer
Cordless screwdriver and bits
Pliers
Wire cutters
Putty knife or small plastic scraper
Stiff bristle brush
Duct tape
Plastic bags
Galvanized nails (2” & 3”) and fencing staples
Wood screws (8 x 1 3/4” & 3”)
Galvanized wire (14 guage)
2” x 2” Galvanized wire mesh (if predator prevention is required)
Scrap pieces of wood (if repairs)
Replacement nest box tops
Disinfectant spray or bottle of 10% bleach solution
Petroleum jelly (for start of season bee/wasp prevention)
Bluebird Trails & Placement of Nest Boxes
Replacement or new MBT nest boxes to add to the trail are available through the Trail Master
If you decide to build your own nest boxes follow the MBTCS Nest Box Building Guidelines! There are many specific construction requirements for bluebirds such as a 1 9/16 entrance hole, an egress ladder, etc. Generally, nest boxes last 10+ years without the need for major renovations - but this is dependent on a number of factors including the quality of construction, nest box placement, maintenance, and environmental conditions.
A “Bluebird Trail” consists of several nest boxes spaced 200 metres or more apart and in a manner convenient for regular inspection by foot or by car. Regular inspections also allow the monitor to remove nests of House Sparrow eggs and other intruders.
If you are developing a new Bluebird Trail, you must have permission from landowner(s) Contact us for guidance on establishing, GPS locating and registering new Bluebird Trails.
These are general guidelines as nest box placement must take into consideration the local conditions. Nest boxes may need to be relocated as local conditions change such as native pasture is replaced by crops, or a new building site is established near a nest box.
Top Recommendations for Placement of Mountain Bluebird Nest Boxes
Face nest box opening away from prevailing winds, where possible. (Southeast, or Northwest) The strongest winds in Southern Alberta are from the southwest, and spring snow storms blow in from the northeast.
Place boxes near native grass or pasture. Open and barren or short-cut grassed area with a few trees nearby is ideal.
Don’t place boxes where cows (who rub on boxes), or horses (who eat them) can reach them. Rocks placed around the post will generally keep cattle far enough from the box. Sheet metal can be attached to the edges of the roof to deter horses from chewing on the plywood.
Record the number branded on the nest boxes and GPS the coordinates.
Don’t place boxes near farm yards as house sparrows will move in and there may be cats around.
Tree swallows and wrens are protected, sparrows are not. Destroy sparrow nests, leave wren and swallow nests alone. Sparrow nests are easily identified. They are a mess of almost everything including grass and feathers and they fill up the box with this material. Move nest boxes if sparrows are using them.
Avoid placing boxes in areas that are sprayed with pesticides and herbicides.
Trail Monitoring - Important Reminders
Plan to check on your Trail every two weeks March through July. Mountain Bluebirds will not abandon their nest if disturbed by humans.
Always be prepared! Bring appropriate equipment and supplies to safely check and maintain the nest boxes on your Trail.
Do not open a nest box in cold or wet weather as it may adversely affect egg incubation or nestlings!
Approach nest box from one side (not directly in front).
Record nesting activity for each box.
Remove any dead nestlings.
Take note of nest box condition.
Track and maintain detailed notes of your observations and take photos along the way.
Leave as quickly, quietly as possible to minimize disturbance.
Compile your photos, notes, and observations. Please consider sharing regular updates on social media!
Trail Monitors succeed by making regular visits. A Trail Buddy and setting phone reminders can help keep yourself accountable.
Taking detailed notes and photos while visiting your Bluebird Trails make compiling and submitting your Annual Summary Report easy.
Nest Box Competitors
A variety of cavity nesting birds may opt to make use of your nest boxes. Remember that all native species play an important role in our ecosystem and most are protected.
Box design can impact the species of birds that use the box. For Mountain Bluebirds the ideal the entrance hole is 3.8cm (1 9/16”). Bluebirds are not likely to use a box with a smaller hole and a larger hole allows English sparrows to enter.
Remember that Bluebird nests are grass leaves woven into a circle and the eggs are blue or sometimes bluish-white.
The nest of any species except House Sparrows, should be left undisturbed!
House Sparrow - fierce competitor of Mountain Bluebird nesting locations
House Sparrow
Introduced species to North America in 1850s.
Readily compete with native species for nesting sites and aggressively take-over existing nests
Nests are messy structures made of grass, other plant material, and feathers - often filling the box.
Eggs are white with a brown or grey mottling.
Monitor your nest boxes regularly and remove House Sparrow nests. House sparrows are not a protected bird. Move the box and check the entrance hole size
House Wren - cavity nesting bird that may overtake Bluebird nest boxes
House Wren eggs are mottled brown
Wrens
Nests are made of twigs.
Very small Brown mottled eggs.
Do not handle wrens.
Do not remove wren nests - they are a protected species.
Tree Swallow - cavity nesting bird that may set up in a nest box
Tree Swallow eggs are white
Tree Swallows
Nests are made of grass and feathers.
Eggs are pure white.
Do not remove or disturb their nests - they are a protected species.
If a Western or Eastern Bluebird takes up residence in your nest box, be sure to make note of this and include it in your Annual Summary Report!
Predators & Pests
Ants can be problematic if nest boxes are placed on trees and may swarm nestlings.
Bears may be attracted to your Nest Box Trail. If a bear persists you may need to relocate your Trail.
Birds of Prey. The main avian predator of the bluebird is the American Kestrel. However, Red-tailed, Swainson’s, Sharp-shinned, and Cooper’s Hawks, Peregrine and Prairie Falcons, Merlins and Northern Harriers have also been known to predate Mountain Bluebirds.
Blowflies may attach to nestlings to suck blood. Keep in mind that research has shown Bluebirds and Blowflies have co-evolved together - helping to cull weak and ensuring the survival of the fittest.
Cats are known predators of most birds. Avoid nest box placement near areas with cats.
Corvids including magpies, crows, and jays will eat nestlings.
Fleas, ticks, lice, mites may be present but to not necessarily present a problem to Bluebird health as they have also co-evolved together.
Raccoons can destroy a bluebird nest. If raccoons are a problem placing a tube shaped wire screen around the opening or putting the box on a hard plastic post can prevent them accessing the nest.
Snakes can predate nests leaving few signs of disturbance. Adding a large baffle or a Kingston baffle can help. Remove tall grass around nest boxes to minimize the risk of snake predation.
Squirrels and chipmunks can chew their way in to a nest box. This happens with poorly placed nest boxes - relocate away from trees.
Reasons for Unsuccessful Nests on Bluebird Trails
Abandoned nests - usually occurs if a female is killed or leaves during the 12-14 day incubation period. A male Bluebird does not have a brood patch so is unable to provide the necessary temperature required to hatch the eggs. The male will normally however, continue to feed nestlings if something happens to the female after the brood hatches.
Dead Young/Abandoned Eggs - bluebird parents have been killed.
Injured Birds - can happen for a variety of reasons - inspect the conditions of your nest box for unnecessary hazards.
Premature Fledgling - nestlings may try to leave the nest before they are ready if the nest is disturbed when the nestlings are 14+ days old!
Wet Nest - driving rain or a poor construction can compromise a nest.
Bi-Annual Nest Box Clean-up
Bluebirds may raise up to two broods of young in a year. Clean out the nest box after the nestlings leave the nest to reduce parasites that collected in the nest material. Ideally a monitor should clean out the old nest immediately after the bluebirds have fledged and before the new nest has been built. Sometimes however a new nest is started or built on top of the old nest before the old nest is removed. If this occurs do not disturb the new nest.
Always use latex gloves whenever you clean a nest box and if mice are present spray the nest with a 10% bleach solution to prevent dust when removing the mouse nest!
Clean-out and repair boxes after the bluebirds have fledged which should happen by mid-August. Check and prepare boxes in spring, February – March in case there was over-winter damage or the floor was dropped in the fall
Leave no trace. Clean up along your Bluebird Trail! Explore our Maintenance page for detailed instructions on how to deep-clean and renovate nest boxes.
Trails Monitors Must Be Aware of Dangers & Disease
Bluebird Trail Monitors should use caution whenever they visit or clean out nest boxes. ALWAYS be aware of potential hazards and take appropriate precautions. If you have questions or concerns, please ask.
Wasps, yellow jackets, and bumblebees may take up residence in your nest boxes. Be cautious when opening a nest box. You can try to control the risk of these insects by rubbing a small amount of petroleum jelly on the inside of nest box lids at the beginning of the season.
Be mindful of your surroundings. Often Bluebird Trails are located in areas where bears, cougars, moose, elk, or wolves may be present and active. Take appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of wildlife. Be aware of livestock like cattle, and horses.
Deer Mice
If deer mice are found in a nest box precautions should be taken due to the possibility of them carrying Hantavirus. The nest should be wetted with a 10% bleach water solution before it is disturbed and then removed. Always stand upwind when removing a mouse nest.
Beware of deer mice - their feces and urine can lead to infection with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
The hantavirus can produce flu-like symptoms in humans before it develops into something more serious. Symptoms usually appear about two to three weeks after being exposed to the virus.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome early symptoms include:
fever and chills
muscle aches (especially in large muscles like the thighs, hips, back and shoulders)
feeling very tired
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and belly pain
Avoid ticks - prevent and properly remove promptly!
Ticks
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease, & Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis can be caused by ticks
Ticks may be present March thru August. Prevent tick exposure and remove ticks promptly. Some species of ticks are carriers of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), Lyme Disease, and Human Granulocytic Ehrilchiosis. A tick bite may result in these bacterial infections, which could result in serious long term illness and complications.
While the species of ticks may not be presently found in southern Alberta, their range is increasing and birds can carry ticks from areas that they normally inhabit. The species of ticks that carry Lyme disease have recently been reported in parts of Southern Alberta.
Preventative measures for tick exposure include:
wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and long pants (tucked into your socks),
using DEET-based insect repellent,
checking yourself (and dogs) for ticks frequently, and
correctly removing ticks promptly.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) is collecting ticks to determine the range of the species that carry various diseases. If you find a tick or ticks collect them in Ziploc bags and take them to an AHS office. Record the location and date of collection.. Click here to learn more about tick surveillance, tick-related diseases, and how to remove a tick.
Observations from MBTCS Member Joe Michielsen
“Maintaining Bluebird nest boxes is essential when having a trail.
A clean, dry, nest box in good condition is necessary for bluebirds to raise a successful brood.. However monitoring throughout the season is helpful to get data on the success of each of the boxes on the trail. The information provided is compiled and is used by government officials (they require a monitor summary report each year) , MBT – for applying basic statistics and determining what may be affecting the success of nesting, and myself – to determine if boxes on my trails are well-situated or need to be relocated and the success of my trails. Although monitoring doesn't provide true population information, it does provide data on yearly differences in the successes or, of course, failures of a nest box.
Monitoring the success of each nest box on a trail provides information which determines whether a box is OK or should be moved or replaced.. The BONUS of monitoring is watching the nests fill with eggs, hatch, and the nestlings mature in a very short time. The grand finale, if you're lucky enough to be on your trail when it occurs, is watching the parents lure the fledglings from the box for their maiden flight. Seeing them land perfectly on a barbed wire or branch and then return to the nest box through the small exit hole.
I've witnessed up to nine eggs in one nest! All the eggs hatched and the nestlings all fledged. It was obvious that the eggs were from 2 mothers because of the color and size difference. Now that's cooperation and a full house! Another BONUS in monitoring is getting out on the trail and seeing "stuff". On almost every monitoring excursion I see something that I need to photograph or simply watch.”
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
Male Mountain Bluebird
Female Mountain Bluebird
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