Blue birding season begins in Mineral County

The calendar and Mother Nature can sometimes oppose one another. But no matter what, longer days in any weather condition will trigger migrating birds to return north, and some of the first to arrive are the bluebirds.

Eastern, western and mountain bluebirds cover the U.S., with the western and mountain species enjoying the lower Clark Fork Valley. 

“The elevation, abundant Poderosa pines, open forest meadows and other spaces are their favorite habitat. I started ‘blue-birding’ in 1998,” says Jane Brockway. “My husband, Alan, and I bought a portion of his grandparents’ ranch. We knew that there were always bluebirds around the ranch, so we hung a couple of boxes and from there my trails now total about 100 boxes.” 

Brockway’s 100 bluebird houses cover east Mullan Road outside of Superior, Quartz Loop area and into the Tarkio area. Checking on nestlings, returning to band them when they are older and then cleaning and winterizing, plus cataloging everything, every time is a shining example of labor of love. 

“I was trained to band by Ervin Davis from Charlo, Montana in 2004 and I band 200-350 bluebirds per year,” she smiles, and then said she may expand that number with more houses this spring. “I serve on the board of directors for The North American Bluebird Society (NABS) and am on the affiliate committee and Bluebird Journal committee. I am also the president of Mountain Bluebird Trails and have been the editor for the newsletter for many years. Mountain Bluebird Trails has a contest every spring for the first sighting of the year. I get phone calls and emails from all over Montana and Idaho as blue birders anxiously watch for the first sighting of the New Year."

That first sighting may have happened before this article is published as bluebirds return to western Montana as early as mid-February and nesting season begins in May. If the weather and insect populations are good, the bluebird pair will many times have a second nesting (known as a clutch).

As you notice bird houses along roads, they are made for mountain and western bluebirds and there is a science on their construction and location. The size of the opening is very important, because starlings (an invasive species) will nest in it if the hole isn’t the correct diameter. Boxes need to be positioned away from prevailing winds.  

Spacing is important to give the birds adequate foraging territory. Boxes are usually attached to posts, poles, even buildings, as long it’s sturdy enough to support and keep the box upright.

 Last year, Brockway received many comments on Facebook which prompted a conversation with the Mineral County Library on an educational course.

Below are the dates, times and subject that people are invited to attend, free of charge, at 301 2nd Avenue East in Superior:

• Blue Birding in Mineral County on March 18 at 11 a.m.: If you have seen boxes around Mineral County and have wondered why they are there, Jane Brockway will be giving you a visual tour of her Bluebird trails in Mineral County. Attendees will see lots of pretty pictures of her trails and the beautiful bluebirds she has had the pleasure of seeing on her trails. 

• Blue Birding for Kids (and their parents too) March 25 at 1:30 p.m.: Kids love bluebirds. Brockway will show some pictures but also have show-and-tell items, coloring pages and lots for them to see.

• Welcome Back the Bluebirds! Bluebird Conservation and History. April 1 at 11 a.m.: The bluebird conservation movement started in the 1970s and not so far away. Art Aylesworth from Ronan, Montana lead the way in Montana and joined forces with the concerned voices in the eastern U.S. and Canada. Mountain Bluebird Trails is still active in Montana and is an affiliate of the North American Bluebird Society. The presentation will be a very brief history of conservation efforts and what interested people can do now. Trails management, lots of beautiful pictures, informational handouts, nestbox plans and small exhibits.

If there is interest, a workshop on trail management, troubleshooting, record keeping basic how’s of establishing a trail can also be done at another time. A bluebird trail consists of one or more boxes. And if the bluebird bug strikes your interest into putting up a few houses, Brockway will either monitor them herself or have another dedicated bluebirder handle the process.

    Jane Brockway might be the bluebird queen of Mineral County. She will be teaching three classes at the county library.