Male Mountain Bluebird in a stiff wind, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, MontanaMale Mountain Bluebird in a stiff wind

Yesterday my post focused on female Mountain Bluebirds and today I am presenting males in honor of Father’s Day. I was blessed to have two fathers, one who died when I was very young and later on my second Dad came into my life and passed away in 2007. Both of them are deeply missed, especially on this day.

Mountain Bluebird males help the female feed their nestlings and they are great providers, that is if you like insects, spiders and caterpillars! This male Mountain Bluebird was photographed in Montana, the breeze was blowing hard that day and for a few seconds he struggled to keep his balance on his perch. I guess some human dads struggle to stay on the pedestals we as children place them on too.

Male Mountain Bluebird with prey for its nestlings, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, MontanaMale Mountain Bluebird with prey for its nestlings

Mountain Bluebirds hover at times like American Kestrels do when they are hunting. They must have great eyesight to see small insects and spiders before they dive down to capture them. I think this one caught a spider in the shrubs in a valley in Montana.

Mountain Bluebird male bringing in prey for its young, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, MontanaMountain Bluebird male bringing in prey for its young

This male Mountain Bluebird brought in a rather hairy looking caterpillar to the nest box for his young.

Mountain Bluebirds are secondary cavity nesters and the bluebird boxes that have been put up all over the country has helped the bluebirds return from serious declines in previous decades.

Thanks to Neil Paprocki of WildLensInc.org I found out about “The Bluebird Man“; Al Larson, who has been putting up Bluebird nest boxes and monitoring them since 1978 and he has banded and astonishing 27,000 plus bluebirds in Idaho and who is continuing to monitor them at 91 years of age. In the near future I will do another post on this fascinating man and the movie that WildLensInc.org is producing about Al Larson, bluebirds and other secondary cavity nesters.

Beautiful blue Mountain Bluebird in Idaho, Fremont CountyBeautiful blue Mountain Bluebird

This male Mountain Bluebird was photographed in Fremont County, Idaho not far from Henry’s Lake and Island Park. The blue of these males outshines sapphires!

I wish every dad who reads my blog a Happy Father’s Day and I hope you enjoy myMountain Bluebird Tribute to Fathers!

Mia

*I am on the road again, you might think I  am trying very hard to not let moss grow under my feet and you would be correct! Please feel free to share my posts with your family and friends.