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Nelson, Canada
$13.00
Title
The Bluebird Of Happiness
Artist
Joy McAdams
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
It seems I have been looking for this bird for years. It passes through the area in which I live every year, and local sharp-eyed observers and photographers all have stories and photographs of this little beauty. Everyone, that is, except me. I have spent hundreds of hours looking at trees, thinking this might be the day, only to face disappointment. Three days ago was no different. I travelled to a location in which they are known to frequent. Several hours later, wet and chilled, I drove home with only images of ducks and geese to show for my efforts. Disheartened, I thought it might not be in my fortune to spot one- ever. Resigned, I gave in to my destiny. The next day I glanced up from my kitchen only to spot a fat grey bird on my deck rail...wait! what was that? could it be? A white rimmed eye...yes! A hint of blue on the tail feathers..yes! A female bluebird, and obviously full of eggs! I grabbed my camera, took several shots of her, then stealthed outside to look for her mate. There he was, not less than 10 feet from my deck! Go figure! They stuck around for a few minutes, and then were gone. I have yet to see them again, but my wishes have been fulfilled, and hence the title of this image.
The mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a medium-sized bird weighing about 30 g (1.1 oz) with a length from 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in). They have light underbellies and black eyes. Adult males have thin bills and are bright turquoise-blue and somewhat lighter underneath. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. In fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are tinged with red-orange, brownish near the flank contrasting with white tail underparts. Their call is a thin 'few'; while their song is warbled high 'chur chur'. It is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada. It is an omnivore and it can live 6 to 10 years in the wild. It eats spiders, grasshoppers, flies and other insects, and small fruits. The mountain bluebird is a relative of the eastern and western bluebirds.
These birds hover over the ground and fly down to catch insects, also flying from a perch to catch them. They mainly eat insects and berries. They may forage in flocks in winter, when they mainly eat grasshoppers. Mountain bluebirds will come to a platform feeder with live meal worms, berries, or peanuts.
Their breeding habitat is open country across western North America, including mountainous areas, as far north as Alaska. They nest in pre-existing cavities or in nest boxes. In remote areas, these birds are less affected by competition for natural nesting locations than other bluebirds. Mountain bluebirds are a monogamous breed. The male can be seen singing from bare branches. The singing takes place right at dawn, just when the sun rises. Females usually build the nests themselves. Eggs are pale blue and unmarked, sometimes white. The clutch size is four or five eggs. Young are naked and helpless at hatching and may have some down. Incubation normally last 14 days and the young will take about 21 days before they leave the nest. Both males and females fiercely protect the nest.
The mountain bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada.
Mountain bluebirds are cavity nesters and can become very partial to a nest box, especially if they have successfully raised a clutch. They may even reuse the same nest, though not always. Mountain bluebirds will not abandon a nest if human activity is detected close by or at the nest. Because of this, they can be easily banded while they are still in the nest.
Mountain Bluebirds are fairly common, but populations declined by about 26% between 1966 and 2014, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population of 4.6 million, with 80% spending some part of the year in the U.S., 20% breeding in Canada, and 31% wintering in Mexico. The species rates an 8 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score. Mountain Bluebird is a U.S.-Canada Stewardship species, and is not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. These bluebirds benefited from the westward spread of logging and grazing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when the clearing of forest created open habitat for foraging. The subsequent waning of these industries, coupled with the deliberate suppression of wildfires, led to a dwindling of open acreage in the West and the decline of the species. More recently, as land-use practices have stabilized, so have Mountain Bluebird populations. Construction of nest boxes in suitable habitat has also provided a population boost. Populations are declining in areas where trees are too small to provide natural nesting cavities, and where forest and agricultural management practices have reduced the availability of suitable nest sites. Among birds that nest in cavities but can’t excavate them on their own, competition is high for nest sites. Mountain, Western, and more recently Eastern bluebirds compete for nest boxes where their ranges overlap. House Sparrows, European Starlings, and House Wrens also compete fiercely with bluebirds for nest cavities.
This image has been featured in the following FAA groups:
FAA Portraits - Birds 4/18/2017
Poetic Poultry 4/18/2017
Images That Excite You 4/18/2017
Wild Birds Of The World- Photography 4/18/2017
A Birding Group - Wings 4/18/2017
Birds In Focus 4/20/2017
Wildlife One A Day 4/23/2017
Uploaded
April 17th, 2017
Statistics
Viewed 1,294 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/19/2024 at 3:57 AM
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Sales Sheet
Quakertown, PA - United States
Love your work, Joy! Especially your wildlife. This little guy is so cheery and cute, looks like he's posing for you! L/F
Joy McAdams replied:
Thank you Sarah. I do appreciate your comment about my work- the admiration is very much reciprical!
Greensboro, NC - United States
Sweet image and great story, I see you've been able to have more opportunities since this one. I look forward to seeing more!
Joy McAdams replied:
Thank you Melissa. I will be posting more of these beautiful birds as time allows.
Thessaloniki, Ma - Greece
Absolutely lovely bluebird portrait, Joy!!!So unique and very beautiful, a great find and excellent capture! LF
Joy McAdams replied:
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and support, Petra. They are such a gorgeous shade of blue.
GRAND BLANC, MI - United States
An outstanding capture and a great story to go with it! Congratulations, Joy! You certainly made the most of the opportunity! L/F
Joy McAdams replied:
Thank you Wes. In the few days since this capture, I have figured out their destination and have had numerous photo opportunities. Marvellous birds!
Naples, FL - United States
Congratulations Joy, your work is Featured in "Birds In Focus" I invite you to place it in the group's "2017 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Federal Way, WA - United States
What a great capture of this beautiful bird! Congratulations on your well-deserved feature. F.
Joy McAdams replied:
Thanks so much for your wonderful support and comment Sharon. It is the most beautiful blue.
Olympia, WA - United States
Lovely image, Joy. I have yet to see a bluebird. lf
Joy McAdams replied:
Thank you I'ina, An update...I have now found where they currently reside. It is a bluebird motherlode (head for rural farmland).
Naples, FL - United States
Congratulations Joy, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings"! I invite you to place it in the group's "2017 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Calgary, AB - Canada
Awesome description and shot Joy, I found my first one's last weekend!! Had four of them hoping around like little kids.They wouldnt sit still until they where to far to shoot. Fun!! l/f
Joy McAdams replied:
Good for you Anthony! It's so neat to see them for the first time...and that is a perfect description of them!
North Palm Beach, FL - United States
Hi Joy! We had three Bluebird submission and they were all gorgeous (including yours!) and they all made me smile and feel happy! :) Your beautiful image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World. L/F
Jacksonville, FL - United States
Really wonderful, Joy! Seen on FB. V/G+/T
Joy McAdams replied:
Thank you so much for your most kind comment and all of the social media support Richard. It is so very appreciated!
Titusville, FL - United States
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Fort Payne, AL - United States
Joy, gorgeous portrait! Feature on Poetic Poultry! https://fineartamerica.com/groups/poetic-poultry-.html
HOUSTON, TX - United States
So glad to know the story behind this image. It is a beautiful bird. You capture it with a perfect angle.
Joy McAdams replied:
Thank you Janet. As you know, luck plays a big part of the perfect angle with wildlife.
Hackensack, Ne - United States
Absolutely love the way you have described your journey of finding this beautiful bird of happiness.:) Awesome capture Joy! L/F
Wheaton, IL - United States
Oh, congratulations Joy on your triumph! I can easily relate to your frustration. But what a beautiful and sweet success. This is such a great capture!
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