Western Bluebird at Lema Ranch, California, photo by Larry Jordan
I chose the Western Bluebird as my first entry in Bird Photography Weekly because I am dedicated to increasing the bluebird population in northern California and across North America.
All three species of bluebird, Eastern, Mountain and Western were all in rapid decline over the last 30 years. The factors that contributed to the decline of this beautiful species were loss of nesting cavities and the invasion of two aggressive and prolific non-native bird species from Europe, the House Sparrow and the European Starling.
Nest Box I Built For My Mom, Female On Top, Male Looking In
With the help of the North American Bluebird Society, founded in 1978, we have made great strides in bringing back the bluebird to our rural areas. Thanks to thousands of dedicated people across the country, the bluebird has become a conservation success story.
Whether you have one or two birdhouses in your backyard, or monitor a bluebird trail with many nest boxes, once you spend some time with this gentle, beautiful bird, you will understand why so many people love the bird that carries the sky on its back.
This is a photograph of Mt. Shasta in northern California I took from Redding the other day. Notice the cloud formation. These “saucer” shaped clouds often form directly above Mt. Shasta prompting some people to believe that there is a group of beings living inside of the mountain called Lemurians. You can read more about the Lemurians and folklore of Mt. Shasta here.
Anna’s Hummingbird is the only hummingbird found along the Pacific Coast in the winter and I still have a few wintering with me. Even after we had snow on the ground for two weeks. These little birds are tough!
Is This One Of The Cutest Chicks You Have Ever Seen?
Just look at those “eyelashes”
This Burrowing Owl chick that my friend Steve is holding here has been banded with two different bands. The one on the right leg is a #4 federal leg band and the one on the left is a red anodized auxiliary marker used to identify individual birds form a distance.
Bird banding is a universal and indispensable technique for studying the movement, survival and behavior of birds. Wild birds are captured and marked with a uniquely numbered band or ring placed on the leg. The bander records where and when each bird is banded, how old it is, what sex it is, and any other information and sends those data to the Bird Banding Laboratory.
Information from bands subsequently found and reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory provides data on the distribution and movements of species, their relative numbers, annual production, life-span and causes of death. This information increases our knowledge and understanding of birds and their habits and assists us in their management and conservation.
For more information on bird banding go to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. In the meantime, here is a short Burrowing Owl video
Western Bluebird at Lema Ranch, California, photo by Larry Jordan
Nest Box I Built For My Mom, Female On Top, Male Looking In
This is a photograph of Mt. Shasta in northern California I took from Redding the other day. Notice the cloud formation. These “saucer” shaped clouds often form directly above Mt. Shasta prompting some people to believe that there is a group of beings living inside of the mountain called Lemurians. You can read more about the Lemurians and folklore of Mt. Shasta 
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