Western Bluebird male, Beaver Lake Road
Our grassy hillsides above the valley floor are good places to see Western Bluebirds and sometimes Mountain Bluebirds, often a little higher up. Volunteers maintain the many bluebird nest boxes you see along the field fences, which has proved crucial in ensuring the survival of these lovely little birds. Western Bluebird males are a rich blue with red below while females look washed-out by comparison, far less likely to draw the eye of a predator. A male Mountain Bluebird is a stunning sky blue in breeding plumage. He sometimes nearly 'vanishes' against the blue of the sky behind him.
(Move mouse over images below to enlarge &/or see captions.)
(Move mouse over images below to enlarge &/or see captions.)
Western Meadowlarks fling their liquid songs across the grassland hillsides. These three photos below of Western Meadowlarks were all taken on Beaver Lake Road in Lake Country.
Grassland slopes are also where you'll find several sparrow species, notably Savannah Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows and, if you're lucky, Lark Sparrows. True sparrows and native to North America, all these little birds nest in slightly different habitat among the grasses and dotted bushes. Often they perch on fence posts or wires, where you can see or hear them easily.
