Female mountain bluebird protects the entrance to her nesting box from the tree swallow interlopers.

Occasionally something happens that triggers thoughts about our responsibilities to the birds and all wildlife.

Dogs let loose on the ocean beaches often chase shorebirds like dunlins, sanderlings, semipalmated and black-bellied plovers. People who walk the beach unaware that trotting though a flock of resting or feeding shorebirds is another issue. Both of these happenings are thoughtless and disrupt our shorebirds. They need time to reenergize so they can continue the trek to their breeding grounds. Maybe, folks don’t really care even though they should. Science tells us that our birds and other wildlife are in decline. Loss of habitat, use of pesticides, loss of food sources and disturbances, like I describe above, all seem to contribute to making life difficult for our feathered friends and even the mammals of the world.

Pull Quote

The life of a bluebird is not easy. One way to help bluebirds is to place two boxes relatively close together. Ten to 12 feet between them seems to help.

The breeding season for ground-nesting birds is upon us and will go on until July. Ground-nesting birds include the western meadowlark, Wilson’s snipe, and savannah sparrow. Columbia Land Trust recently made an impassioned plea to keep dogs on leash when walking trails to protect ground-nesting birds. It also reminded us to not trample plants or flowers and to make sure waste is packed out. Interestingly, the Trust also suggested that we “brush off our boots before and after a hike to help prevent the spread of invasive weeds.” (The Moss, May 2023). To summarize it encouraged its readers to recreate responsibly.

This past week I had the opportunity to watch two pairs of mountain bluebirds trying to tend to their nestlings. I say trying because several pairs of tree swallows were attempting to oust the bluebirds and take over the box. One tree swallow male went so far as to appear at the entrance of the nesting box. Tree swallows compete with bluebirds for nesting spots whether it be in a tree or a man-made structure. The tree swallows continually harassed the mountain bluebirds by sitting on the roof of the boxes and taking up positions on the fence posts beside the box. The bluebirds were kept busy flying at the swallows in an effort that was not always successful to chase them away. The male bluebird was the main aggressor, while the female tried to take morsels of insects into the box to her starving nestlings. However, she was not afraid to go on the attack at times too. The swallows never gave up, nor did the mountain bluebirds.

The life of a bluebird is not easy. One way to help bluebirds is to place two boxes relatively close together. Ten to 12 feet between them seems to help. Thus, there is one nest for the bluebirds and one for the swallows, because generally, tree swallows do not like to nest too close to each other. This strategy seems to work for the western bluebird as well. Birders are still reporting the presence of a pair of mountain bluebirds in Clatsop County.

American white pelicans are still being seen along the Astoria shore and on Young’s Bay. I haven’t heard any reports of them or seen them on the peninsula so far this season. If they are here, it would likely be in or off the Ilwaco and Chinook harbors.

Lady Junco, of Hosta Hotel fame, has been observed collecting food to take to her nestlings, but the hotel she chose this year is still a mystery. My friend, Shelle, has been looking diligently but has yet to discover the nest. Cold weather delayed the growth and renovation of the Hosta Hotel. It looks like she was ready to raise a family before the hotel was suitable. The Hosta hotel is now ready. Shelley hopes that she will choose it for her second brood. She is keeping an eye on Lady junco.

Breeding season is upon us. Ground-nesting species need our protection. Shorebirds resting and feeding on our ocean beaches also need protection and respect. There is a lot of bird activity on the Peninsula right now Keep your eyes open and your binoculars handy! Happy birding!