Mountain Bluebird—A Stunning Flash of Blue in the Mountains
In open habitats across much of Western North America, the male Mountain Bluebird is a beautiful flash of blue. The bluebird is the prototype of the legendary bluebird that symbolizes happiness. The male Mountain Bluebird is sky-blue from its face to its chest, with slightly darker wings and tail, lighter undersides, and a white lower belly. The female is grayish-brown overall, with pale blue wings and tail.
Mountain Bluebirds are common throughout the vast West, especially at medium to high altitudes. During the breeding season, they seek out open areas with a mix of short grass, shrubs, and trees at elevations below 12,500 feet. They prefer to frequent the edges of prairies and tundras, meadows, sagebrush plains, alpine slopes, pastures, and areas recently affected by wildfires or logging. In freezing weather, Mountain Bluebirds winter at lower elevations and avoid the most arid desert habitats.
Unlike most thrushes, Mountain Bluebirds prefer to feed on insects from a perch, or while in flight, they may hover with their long wings spread before diving quickly to catch insects, much like a small American Kestrel.
You can catch a glimpse of the Mountain Bluebird during the Wings Over the Rockies Festival held in BC in the spring. The festival takes place every May; this year it is held from May 5th to 11th in the Columbia River Wetlands. Stretching 180 kilometers from Canal Flats to Donald, BC, the wetlands are one of the longest known pristine wetland ecosystems in North America. In 2005, this breathtaking ecosystem was designated a Ramsar Wetland, recognized as one of the few pristine sections of the Pacific Flyway, which is vital for migratory birds. The theme of this year's event is "Secrets of Migration," where you can learn about the migration patterns of various creatures, such as waterfowl and songbirds, as well as the seasonal movements of ungulates, carnivores, butterflies, bats, fish, and even humans. You will also witness the spectacular sight of thousands of birds gathering here. Among these precious birds, you will find the stunning blue of the Mountain Bluebird, happily flying through the mountains of the Rockies. It is said that those who see them will be blessed with happiness.
Steller's Jay—The Captivating Blue Cutie
The Steller's Jay became the provincial bird of BC on December 17, 1987. The Steller's Jay is a vibrant mix of blue and black. Found throughout the province, these birds are lively, witty, bold, and mischievous, making them a favorite among the people of BC. From a distance, the Steller's Jay looks like a dark jay; it has a charcoal-black head and is blue all over (with the brightest, almost glossy color on its wings), with faint white markings above the eyes.
Steller's Jays are common in wild forests and are frequent visitors to campsites, parks, and residential backyards. They are very alert and can quickly discover bird feeders and unattended picnic food. When "scouting" in the woods, they always stay in the high canopy. However, if a Steller's Jay is near you, you will certainly hear its harsh, raspy call. Their wings are broad and full, and their flight is lazy and graceful, with a preference for long, swooping glides.
Like other jays, Steller's Jays are bold, curious, intelligent, and noisy. They spend most of their time in the canopy and flap their wings slowly when flying. They will fly down to the forest floor to watch visitors and forage for food, moving with agile hops on their long legs.
Steller's Jays inhabit evergreen forests in Western North America at elevations between 3,000 and 10,000 feet (lower along the Pacific coast). To view them systematically, we recommend visiting the 2014 Creston Valley Bird Fest, held from May 9th to 11th, 2014, in Creston Valley. Creston Valley is an important birding site, a habitat for precious birds, and a staging area for migratory birds, with over 300 species recorded here. The bird festival will offer a variety of eco-friendly birdwatching activities guided by field experts, as well as photography exhibitions and bird-themed seminars. Here, you can observe Steller's Jays up close, learn about their habits under expert guidance, and capture the blue silhouette of this lively and cute provincial bird.
Great Blue Heron—The Blue Reflection Gliding Over the Lake
The Great Blue Heron can be seen in many parts of North America. They are common birds in southern BC, especially in the southern coastal region, and are the largest heron species in Canada, reaching up to 1.5 meters in height. From a distance, the Great Blue Heron appears blue-gray with a broad black stripe above the eyes. In flight, the upper wings show two colors: grayish-white on the forewing and darker flight feathers.
Whether standing leisurely in a bay or slowly flapping its wings along the coastline, the Great Blue Heron always creates a beautiful scene. This heron is elegant in appearance with pale blue-gray feathers. They walk calmly in deep water and often stand perfectly still while searching for prey. Although they move slowly, they can use their powerful beaks to pierce prey, catching fish or swallowing pocket gophers in a flash. In flight, you will see this widely distributed heron tuck its neck in and extend its long, slender legs backward.
Great Blue Herons typically inhabit saltwater and freshwater areas, ranging from open coasts, marshes, riverbanks, and lakes to goldfish ponds in residential backyards. They also forage in meadows and farmland. During the breeding season, Great Blue Herons gather in colonies to nest far above the ground. In BC, although Great Blue Herons are very common, biologists have found their numbers are declining, leading to their inclusion on the "Blue List," which requires closer monitoring of their population. Their graceful figures reflected in the tranquil lagoons create a spectacular sight—which is why we need to pay more attention to this precious and beautiful blue bird.
Vancouver Island is one of the year-round habitats for the Great Blue Heron. Forest reserves, vast mudflats, long sandy beaches, and rocky coastlines make this region a natural bird habitat, attracting over 40 species of shorebirds. It hosts the largest migratory staging area for curlews in BC, as well as large flocks of Western Sandpipers, Dunlins, and other birds. If you happen to visit in May, you might be lucky enough to catch the Tofino Shorebird Festival, held from May 2nd to 4th, 2014. During the Tofino Shorebird Festival, the region will host a series of birdwatching educational activities to celebrate this breathtaking annual migration event. You can experience the large-scale wildlife migration here, learn about these birds, and understand why Tofino is considered the best birdwatching destination in Western Canada.