Bugs beware as the Mountain Bluebirds pass through the area on the way back up to the high country. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Denver CO.
We only see these guys around here for a fews days each spring…if we are lucky. The positive is that we can drive up to the mountains and see them most of the summer.
Lovely photo, Mike. I really like seeing the beautiful mountain bluebird in the grass, for they do not often visit the ground as much as they perch. You captured his color wonderfully. 😀
Thanks Jet, we spent some time watching these guys going from their perch down into the grass to hunt. They only spent a short time on the ground as you have noticed. Hope you have a great weekend.
Hi, Mike and Christine: Good blog! The photos are excellent–good composition, good lighting and color, everything. As I’m sure you know. those are all tough things to get in nature photography; it takes a lot more patience than most folks think. I’m assuming it’s okay that I repost on my Facebook page. I just signed up to receive new posts that you have in the future. –Gary Kimsey, garykimsey@yahoo.com, poudreriver.org
Hi Garry, Thanks for all the kind words they are very appreciated. Glad you will be following along with our journey so to speak. Feel free to link to our posts in any way as we love sharing what we see. You must be in the Ft Collins/northern Colorado area with a website about the Poudre river? Both Christy and I have spent a part of lives in Fort Collins. Anyway have a wonderful afternoon and enjoy what looks to be a great weekend.
I am sorry to hear about the declining population of these guys in your area. Perhaps a program of building nest boxes is in order as in many places the starling have stolen their traditional nesting holes.
HI, those are great questions which I do not know the answers to. Both are plausible answers to that coloration. I would suspect we rurally do not know the answer except that some evolutionary pressure drove them to be so blue. So, survival depended upon it.
Beautiful!
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Thanks.
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Wow!
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Thanks Victor and have a great weekend.
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Gorgeous! ❤
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Thanks Lucy, Sure wouldn’t want to be a bug in the grease with this guy around.
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Cool shot! Beautiful blue bird. 🙂
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We only see these guys around here for a fews days each spring…if we are lucky. The positive is that we can drive up to the mountains and see them most of the summer.
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… see them most of summer, I envy you!
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that is if we are lucky. 🙂
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Lovely photo, Mike. I really like seeing the beautiful mountain bluebird in the grass, for they do not often visit the ground as much as they perch. You captured his color wonderfully. 😀
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Thanks Jet, we spent some time watching these guys going from their perch down into the grass to hunt. They only spent a short time on the ground as you have noticed. Hope you have a great weekend.
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Gorgeous, Mike, what a wonderful capture!
Happy Easter!
All the best
from the Four of us,
Dina, Klausbernd, Siri and Selma
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Thanks Dina, and a very happy easter to you and your family as well.
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Just stunning
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Thanks Paula, wishing you a wonderful weekend.
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Hi, Mike and Christine: Good blog! The photos are excellent–good composition, good lighting and color, everything. As I’m sure you know. those are all tough things to get in nature photography; it takes a lot more patience than most folks think. I’m assuming it’s okay that I repost on my Facebook page. I just signed up to receive new posts that you have in the future. –Gary Kimsey, garykimsey@yahoo.com, poudreriver.org
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Hi Garry, Thanks for all the kind words they are very appreciated. Glad you will be following along with our journey so to speak. Feel free to link to our posts in any way as we love sharing what we see. You must be in the Ft Collins/northern Colorado area with a website about the Poudre river? Both Christy and I have spent a part of lives in Fort Collins. Anyway have a wonderful afternoon and enjoy what looks to be a great weekend.
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What a beauty:)
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He sure is. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Beautiful blue – he does seem very intent on his prey here! Have a great weekend you two!
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Thanks Eliza, the weekend is shaping up to be nice with sunny skies and a bit warmer weather.
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Great photo, Mike. 🙂
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Thanks Natalie, hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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What a little beauty. Great shot Mike. Hugs
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Thanks.
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Hard to think of such a beautiful blue little bird as a mighty hunter, so thank you for the reminder of their other abilities. Gorgeous shot!
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Hi Jane, and good looks combined with a fierce hunting ability are some pretty good characteristics to have. 🙂
Hope you have a great weekend.
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Reblogged this on Our beautiful life in this beautiful world.
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Hi and thanks for passing along the photo on your blog. It is indeed a beautiful world we have been given the opportunity to take care of.
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I love the mountain bluebirds. They used to nest here every year, but sadly the population is dwindling. I miss them.
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I am sorry to hear about the declining population of these guys in your area. Perhaps a program of building nest boxes is in order as in many places the starling have stolen their traditional nesting holes.
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Wow what a stunning little bird.
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Hi Jonno, thanks and thanks for taking time to leave a little feedback on the blog. Much appreciated.
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Now tell me this; why is that bird painted so blue?
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Perhaps he just want to give us something wonderful to look at? Or perhaps the scientific version…
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-are-some-feathers-blue-100492890/?no-ist
Anyway he is quite a looker for sure and as we say out here in the mountain west, hope you are having a bluebird day.
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I was also wondering if there was some reason such as camouflage or the brightness of light in the high country.
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HI, those are great questions which I do not know the answers to. Both are plausible answers to that coloration. I would suspect we rurally do not know the answer except that some evolutionary pressure drove them to be so blue. So, survival depended upon it.
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We have a little nest of five eggs (Eastern Bluebirds) in a birdhouse we built for them. Thrilled every time I see them going in and out.
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Hi, luck you. It must be a pleasure to watch.
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