Al Larson Photography

This is one of many bluebird pictures I shot last summer. This is a female Mountain Bluebird. It was one of several very photogenic birds I encountered. She did not seem belligerent or overly excited at my being close to her nest. Situations like this are what keeps me involved with the task of maintaining a “Bluebird Trail.”

House Wrens build a very unusual nest. They are cavity nesters, however I once found a nest such as this built on top of an abandoned robin nest in the fork of a willow tree. Twigs are stuffed into a nestbox until the entrance hole is partially covered. This restricts entry into the box for birds and other critters that are larger than the wren. In some nests twigs may be as large as a lead pencil. A deep nest cup is formed in the rear of the box and is usually lined with a thin layer of fine grass. Up to nine small brown-speckled eggs are laid. A normal clutch may be 5-7 eggs.

House Wrens are beneficial birds and deserve a place to rear a family. However, they have a one very unwelcome tradition. The male will set up a territory and start nests in several cavities. The female will then choose one of them for her nesting activities. This leaves cavities stuffed with twigs that could have been used by another species. What a waste! When I find wren activity in any of my bluebird nestboxes I usually stop monitoring that box. At the end of the nesting season when cleaning old nests out of the boxes I find several wren nests that were never used.

Bluebirds generally arrive on territory earlier than House Wrens and stake out their nest sites. However, there are late arrivals and these bluebirds will have to look elsewhere for nest building. Also, wrens will move into a box after the bluebird nestlings have fledged. This prevents bluebirds having a second brood in that box.

I have a special place in my heart for bluebirds and try to help them as much as I can. But, if another species or animal lays an egg or has nestlings in one of my nestboxes that is its home for the duration.

I made my last trip for the year out to the bluebird trails today and found a very photogenic bluebird. Of course his concern was for the nestlings in the box I was visiting. I already have loads of photos of the Mountain Bluebird but I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this for another. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have so many of these beautiful birds in my life.

A Common Nighthawk flushes, flies low a short distance, lands and flutters her wings. She attracted my attention alright. I have often seen this action with Killdeer. This demonstration is to lure potential harm away from a nest or vulnerable offspring. As I approached for a better picture she led me farther away. Alas, this is the only photo I was able to get of her.

“When whippoorwills call, And evening draws nigh, We’ll be happy in my, Blue Heaven.” This is one of my favorite songs.

“Pooorwilllzz” Even though the call of the Common Poorwill is somewhat different than that of a Whippoorwill it has a similiar quality. It sounds as though it says “poorwill” with a little soft buzz at the end. In the dusk of early evening one can often hear the soft call of a poorwill in the mountains of southwest Idaho. It takes me back to my early youth when I worked on a ranch in the Jordan Valley, OR area. The birds came in quite close to the cabin. Oh, to relive those moments again!

The poorwill nestlings in this photo hatched from the eggs shown on this blog a few days ago. As I approached the nest site the attending adult flushed from the nest and with much ado invited me to follow. I, however, turned my attention to photographing these nestlings. After several shots from various angles I hastened away within a couple of minutes. My philosophy is, try to be not too intrusive and make my presence as brief as possible.

Addendum: After some research I have concluded that this is the nest of a Common Nighthawk. I’m sorry for the mistake.   Al

This Common Poorwill nest is the most elaborate that I have seen. The female for this nest chose a site near a pine tree and laid her eggs on the needles, no cup, no scrape. I usually find poorwill’s nest on bare ground under an over-hanging branch of a shrub. Two eggs is the normal clutch size. I’ve often wondered if the newly hatched chicks lingered on the spot and how long. A brief research found that the young are semi-precocial and if disturbed may move to nearby concealment. Both young and adults are criptically colored so as to blend in with nearly any background. It’s neat to hear the poorwill call in the early evening.

Addendum: After further research I have concluded that this is a nest of a Common Nighthawk. I’m sorry for the mistake.  Al

I was fortunate to have a pair of Lewis’ Woodpecker nest in an old pine tree snag close to a bluebird nestbox. This one paused for a portrait before delivering a snack to one of its nestlings.

Fourth  of July is the time to display patriotic colors. With the cooperation of our favorite bird we find here the red, white and blue. Mr. Mountain Bluebird helps us celebrate the Fourth.

Keep your camera at the ready and capture moments like this. When you are out and about you never know what you will find. How many times have you heard, “Oh rats! I left my camera in the car?”

I went down to Mores Creek today and found this little guy. This American Dipper had a nest nearby and was bringing food to a couple of nestlings. These are fascinating little birds in that they have partially reverted back to water. They find their food under water. It’s fun to see one of them dive into a fast flowing stream in search of food and emerge in the same spot with their prey. One would expect the bird to be swept down stream.

Most of the Western Tanagers have moved on now. Weather improved and the birds headed north. As always we have a couple pairs of tanagers that call our home their home. They find a place to nest and rear their young nearby. Providing nectar is a little easier now. With all of the sugar water consumed there must have been a lot of sweet birds out there. Hummingbirds can feed more freely too.

This picture was taken just a few minutes ago. The sun had set. I am shooting through the kitchen window. The background shows too much blue and green but the bird shows up nicely.