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Western Bluebird (Georgia Depression population)
Sialia mexicana
Photo credit: Cheryl Baker, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Description
The Georgia Depression population of the Western Bluebird was common in southwestern British Columbia, including the Gulf Islands, but in the 1950’s the species began to decline. It disappeared from coastal mainland BC in the 1970’s but a few small populations hung on in southeastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands until the early 1990s. By 1995, Western Bluebirds were no longer breeding in southwestern BC. Occasional sightings of migrating birds have been seen on Salt Spring recently. Ideal bluebird habitat is in open and barren or short-cut/sparsely grassed areas (so they can see their food, ground-dwelling insects) with a few perches nearby such as fence lines or trees. Garry Oak meadows, pesticide and herbicide-free cattle or horse pastures, cemeteries, acreages, abandoned orchards, lightly traveled roadsides, golf courses, open areas in parks, the edges of meadows, and clear cuts adjacent to or within forested areas that have been recently burned provide excellent bluebird habitat. Poor bluebird habitats include town or city centers where they might be in competition with House Sparrows (e.g. Ganges, Fulford Harbour, Vesuvius), densely wooded areas, or locations where the boxes are at risk of being depredated or vandalized. Biologists think that the decline of bluebirds was caused by small populations experiencing losses due to cool wet springs, loss of Garry Oak meadows, removal of standing dead trees that were used for nesting, reductions in their insect prey due to pesticide application, and competition for nest holes with the introduced House Sparrow and European Starling. Conservation Information for Private Landowners
Protecting existing habitats and restoring degraded habitats, particularly our endangered Garry oak ecosystems, is of great importance. There are a variety of conservation options available for landowners on Salt Spring Island. Leaving older trees intact that have nest cavities in them can provide nesting sites for the western bluebird, and many other of our native cavity nesters. Installing and monitoring nest boxes in suitable habitats can also be beneficial. Click here for plans (NESTBOX PLANS). If you see a Western Bluebird, please contact us. What We Are Doing At The Salt Spring Conservancy On Salt Spring Island, we are establishing a network of western bluebird boxes in areas with suitable habitat. Many landowners are participating in the project, hoping to attract the bluebirds back to our island. The Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team (GOERT) is also hoping to reintroduce pairs of western bluebirds back to our island at some point in the future. Attracting the western bluebird back to our island has many benefits. It would help to restore an important component of our rare Garry oak ecosystems, which are home to over 100 Species at Risk. Reestablishing breeding bluebird pairs would help to restore the Georgia Depression Population on the Gulf Islands, hopefully increasing the connectivity to additional suitable habitat in other areas. It also allows our community to be involved in the recovery and monitoring aspects of this beautiful songbird. 2010 Western Bluebird Activities During the 2010 breeding season, 155 bluebird boxes were available for use in the Fulford Valley, Mt. Tuam, Mt Maxwell, Andreas Vogt Nature Reserve, Reginald Hill, Beaver Point Rd area and Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park. This was more than double the number of boxes available in 2009. Forty-seven Violet Green Swallow pairs, 1 Tree Swallow, 40 House Wren and 3 Chestnut-backed Chickadee pairs nested in the boxes. As in 2009, about 40% of the boxes were not used by birds. While it is disappointing that no bluebirds nested here, the boxes did provide habitat for other native bird species. Over the past year, 50 new boxes were built and put up. Over the past five years, Western Bluebirds have been reintroduced to San Juan Island from a thriving population in Washington. In 2010, bluebirds were breeding on 12 territories and 84 nestlings were produced, the most to date over the 5 year project. This spring, a pair from the San Juan Island population was found setting up territory on Lopez Island, 11 km away. There was also a sighting of a pair of bluebirds in Metchosin in late April: one of them was banded and thus likely came from the San Juan population. Thus, we feel that there is an excellent chance that bluebirds will eventually find their way over to Salt Spring.
House Wren at Bluebird Nesting Box Susan putting up nesting boxes
For information on the San Juan Island Western Bluebird Reintroduction Project, please see the following links: http://www.sanjuanislander.com/groups/san_juan_preservation_trust/blue-bird.shtml http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/domestic/western_bluebird.html http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/environment/story/343158.html For information on the North American Bluebird Society and box plans, please visit the following link: http://www.nabluebirdsociety.com
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