Western Bluebird

Before the rain and hail forced us out of the Mima Mounds Natural Preserve south of Olympia on 6 March 2021, Erika and I photographed two Western Bluebirds. This species can be identified by range and by their often sporting brown back patches. Western Bluebirds are found in open areas, but, unlike other bluebirds, require nearby forest edges. Guinan et al. (2020) write, "Clear-cutting, snag removal, fire suppression, and any changes in land use that cause open forest and edge habitat to be diminished adversely affect Western Bluebird populations.” As a result, despite bluebird box programs, Western Bluebird populations have declined in western Washington.