Al Larson Photography

On the third of September I made my final run on the “Bluebird Trails” to remove the remaining old nests from the nest boxes. All 300 and some nest boxes are now cleaned and ready for the return of bluebirds come spring. This year’s production of fledgling bluebirds (Mountain and Western) came to 753 individuals. This is a fairly good number considering the foul weather at the beginning of the nesting season. I always hope that next year the weather will be more cooperative.

This late in the year a few families of bluebirds are still in the area. Most of the summer inhabitants are headed south for the winter. Next spring they will return to start another nesting cycle.

The accompanying photo is of a curious burro that came over to see what I was doing with the nest boxes. After a little petting and scratching his withers I departed to the next box. He watched me leave then returned to the company of his horse pals.

When the sun comes out in the spring and temperatures rise, reptiles of all descriptions begin to appear. Fence Lizards, which are the most common lizard species in our yard, are no exception. They appear on the sun-warmed foundation of the house, rocks, and other objects exposed to the sun. Being cold-blooded creatures they soak up the radiant heat before they really become active. They capture flies, moths, butterflies, and other insects for food. The subject in this photo seemed content to just lay there and let me take its picture. HAPPY SHOOTING!

When temperatures soar to the high 90s I find that I am not alone in seeking shelter from the heat. I looked out in the yard a couple of days ago and saw this group of wild turkeys bedded down in the shade on the cool moist grass.

While checking the bluebird nest boxes the other day I came across one that had some nestlings about ready to fledge. At first I saw only one bird at the entrance. Then it disappeared and another one peeked out at me. I broke out the camera and fired away. I then gave a little whistle like the parents often do. Three little heads immediately appeared at the door. What a sight! It made my day. Never stray too far from the camera.

Here it is mid-July and most of the flowers in the high desert of Owyhee county have bloomed and faded away. There are several species of Indian Paintbrush. Some have already bloomed and expired. This species, however, is just now coming onto its own. I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to capture it on camera and share it with my friends.

 Yesterday I found another photogenic Mountain Bluebird. When they come in close like this, it’s hard to control my trigger finger. So I find that I have another series of great pictures. The moral to my story is “always keep your camera at the ready.”

It’s hard for me to pass up a picturesque old building without taking a photo of it.. Here is the Ola Community Church with its adjacent cemetery. The church sets on a rise south of the village of Ola, Gem county, Idaho. A couple years ago repairs were made to the old building and a new coat of paint was applied. The church is still used for religious functions. The cemetery in the background is well kept.

One of the fascinating things in checking nest boxes on the “Bluebird Trail” is that it is full of surprises. It is like opening packages on Christmas morning. You never know exactly what you’ll find. Although my notes from previous visits may hint at what may be there an occasional extra presents itself. Will there be eggs? How many? Will there be nestlings? How old? On this occasion I opened the box to find a clutch of eggs just beginning to hatch. By the end of the day all six of the eggs will have hatched. This was perfect timing, for me, to find the first nestling just out of the egg.

Like most small birds, bluebirds delay incubating until after all of their eggs are laid. This arrangement allows all of the eggs in the clutch to have the same incubation time. Therefore, in most cases, all of the nestlings should hatch out on the same day. This gives each hatchling equal chance at the dinner table. None should be more aggressive due to size when the parents arrive with food.

In the course of monitoring my many bluebird nest boxes I occasionally come across another species. This year I have had three boxes that were home for Mountain Chickadee. They have very large clutches for their size. Two of the boxes had 8 nestlings each while the third had nine. The parents keep busy feeding so many mouths.

This tiny little bird is very trusting and comes in very close while I am checking its nest. Sometimes the adult enters the box while I am banding some of the nestlings. This gives me the opportunity to get close-up shots with the camera. My main problem is to have one pose long enough to get sharp picture.

This Spring we have had a gorgeous parade of yellow wild flowers. The first big display was the Arrowleaf Balsamroot covering vast areas of our mountain sides. Now the Mule Ears Wyethia amplexicaulis is taking over. From a distance the two species may look somewhat alike. On close examination, however, you notice the leaves of the Mule Ears are long and slender. The ray flowers are also a slightly darker shade.

 Here is a scene photographed on the 10^th of June in Gem county in the Squaw Creek drainage. It is amazing how these hardy plants return year after year. A little moisture in the Spring triggers a display like this even after several years of drought.