ern bluebirds nest in her backyard the spring fol- lowing her husband’s death. As she puts it, “I be- lieve they were sent by the spirit of my husband to tell me he was watching over me.” North Idaho’s Farragut State Park is my favorite place to find both flavors of bluebirds. The park has installed several bluebird boxes throughout the area. The strategy is simple: Bring your bin- oculars, pay the admission fee, then slowly drive around the park. When you spot a box, park and watch for a blur of blue. Both bluebird species nest from late May through mid-July, which means both males and females spend their days hunting for insects to return to the nest box to feed chicks. Birds habitually fol- low a pattern. They will often fly with food and land on a nearby tree branch, hesitate, then fly into the box. Some will leave the box and resume
hunting. Others will fly to a perch for a moment before resuming hunting. Those moments where they are perched make the perfect opportunity for a great look at the bird or to make a photo. Use a long telephoto lens for the best images. Those wanting to attract bluebirds can place nest boxes on trees or fence posts. Nest boxes can be purchased or built. The entrance must be a 1 9/16-inch round opening, no larger, to keep other birds from using the box. Boxes should be placed in the open, on a tree or fence post, pref- erably pointing southeast. Once you see one of Idaho’s bluebirds you’re likely hooked for life. Not just because of their colorful feathering, but the simple joy found in watching them. There are no blues in bluebirds, just happiness.
Mountain Bluebird, male
Western Bluebird, male
Wild in Idaho idaho summer blues
story and photos by TIM CHRISTIE
Not music or a state of mind, rather a collection of what may be the bluest blues nature has ever created. 208 is the area code for dialing up two avian summer residents that you must see to be- lieve. Both flitter throughout much of the state, nesting and raising young. Warm summertime’s gift, where life is easy, and food is plentiful. Mountain bluebirds, richly appointed with in- sanely sky-blue feathers, are so striking that in 1931 school children proposed the colorful avi- an should be commemorated as the Idaho state bird. The proposal faced little debate, and it re- ceived unanimous approval. As one might ex- pect given its name, they flourish in mountain habitats, loving high country meadows. They can also be found in lower-elevation grasslands, plains, fields, and farmland pastures. Wherever you find them, they are a cheery flash of blue, spurring joyful delight for gifted observers, be they serious bird watchers or one’s lucky hap- penstance. Preferring to nest in tree hollows, they can also be found setting up home in holes in cliffs or dirt banks. They are often observed hovering low over grass fields or in open timber.
Western bluebirds don’t play second best in any “what’s the most amazing-colored bird con- test.” With a marriage of blue and rust feath- ering, males landing on a pine bough demand one’s attention, seemingly screaming, “Look at me, aren’t I beautiful?” Females are less color- ful, with gray-blue feathering, yet when they’re together, the male and female strike viewers as simply stunning. Western bluebirds flourish in conifer forests and adjacent meadows, and they are regularly found in open spaces. Adults of both species are generally monoga- mous, staying together throughout the breeding season, and may breed together for more than one season. It is common for a pair to raise two, sometimes three, broods in a summer. Fledged birds remain near the nest until they migrate south in the fall. Bluebirds are seen as bearers of happiness and optimism, spiritual development, hope and joy. Some Native American cultures viewed them as envoys of rebirth, tranquility and good fortune. Also, some believe that bluebirds represent a connection between the living and those who have passed away. A friend had a pair of west-
Western Bluebird, male and female
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