Mountain Bluebird Trail
Photo by L. Harris
Several Sacajawea Audubon members maintain and monitor bluebird boxes around the Gallatin Valley. Some members are also federally permitted to band birds through the US Geological Survey.
This project was started approximately 40 years ago by Louis Moos, and expanded by Mary Geis and other Audubon members. The bluebird trail system now encompasses three different routes, each with around 100 nest boxes.
Photo by J. Hayward
Volunteers go out every two weeks during the nesting season (mid-April to mid-August) to check the boxes, and collect data. Banding data is sent to the Bird Banding Lab.
Monitoring bluebird boxes gives volunteers an up-close and personal look at the lives of these amazing birds, including nest building, egg laying and raising young.
Through banding, it's possible to learn that some of these bluebirds return each year to nest, sometimes to the exact same box.
If you are interested in learning more about the bluebird trail, contact Lou Ann Harris at 600-3585.
Mountain Bluebird nestlings