MBTCS News & Updates
Observation on New Bluebird Trail Monitors Recruitment
Recruiting monitors is an ongoing requirement to maintain the trails and keep the nest boxes in usable condition for bluebird nesting. Proximity to the mountains, recreational areas and parks provides a draw, bringing people to the foothills for recreational activities. Monitoring a bluebird trail can be one of the activities that people and families engage in when they are in bluebird habitat.
President’s Report - Spring 2019
Greetings to all, and all the best this spring and summer. We are all looking forward to another year on the bluebird trail. As your new president, I would be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank our outgoing president, Joe Michielsen, for his hard work and dedication in his role as president of the Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society.
About Parasites found in Mountain Bluebird Nest Boxes
The fly larvae that feed on the young bluebirds are common flies. I collected a number of the larvae and pupae from bluebird nest boxes this summer and put them in a jar. Then I left them for a couple weeks until the adults emerged from their cocoons, and what came out? Common flies, nothing special, just the everyday flies you see everywhere in fields and around cattle.
President's Report - Fall 2018
Migration in fall 2017 and spring 2018 was very rough on the mountain bluebird population. Fall and winter roared in last fall with an early snowstorm and continued with very few breaks. Then winter continued until ate April while the bluebirds were returning and looking for both food and nesting sites.
Trail Master gradually locating, upgrading nest boxes
We have approximately 2,585 Mountain Bluebird Trails nest boxes.We have GPS coordinates for 1,990 of them, but there are 595 nest boxes included in the inventory without coordinates. Thus we have GPS co-ordinates for two-thirds of our monitored trails, and 85 active trail monitors.