Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc.


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About Us How you can help Bluebird Banding Regional Coordinators References Bluebird Links


	About Us

"A Western Bluebird"
photo by Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc.

Mountain Bluebird Trails (MBT) monitors Mountain, Western and Eastern Bluebirds throughout the Northern U.S. Rocky Mountain region and coordinates the conservation efforts for interested persons or groups. MBT will work towards its goals by promoting bluebird conservation projects, conducting educational programs, distributing educational materials, collecting and sharing nesting box data, and aiding in the development of nest box trails.


	How you can Help

One of the bluebird trails in Beaverhead National Forest begins in the sage-covered hills above Ruby Reservoir. From the book Bluebirds Forever by Connie Toops.

Choose a bluebird trail and erect man-made nest boxes.
Monitor the nest boxes to improve the bluebird's chance of survival and identify and correct problems.
Inform friends and encourage their help in monitoring your trail or establishing one of their own.
Join Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc. and donate time and funds to help insure the bluebird's future.

Volunteer Monitors: Mountain Bluebird Trails always needs volunteers to monitor nest boxes. If you are interested, please call our office in Ronan, Montana at (406) 676-0300 or write to us at P.O. Box 794, Ronan, MT 59864. ayleswor@ronan.net

You will receive information regarding necessary habitat and assistance in setting up your trail.


	Bluebird Banding

Ervin Davis of Charlo, MT is one of the many who are banding the bluebirds. This effort allows one to develop a story about individual birds. This year a banded female returned to the same box it occupied last year. If you are interested in learning about banding bluebirds in your area, contact:

Ervin Davis
604 N. Main, Charlo, MT 59824
e-mail ervdavis@blackfoot.net.

Ervin can put you in touch with individuals in your region that are banding or will help you directly. It is a fantastic experience to hold both the young and old in your hand and to be part of a program that is striving to learn more about bluebird populations and habitats.

Adult feeding young bird just banded by Erv Davis.

If you should come across a dead banded bluebird, please remove the band, flatten it out, tape it to a sheet of paper and mail it to Ervin Davis, 604 N. Main, Charlo, MT 59824. Please mention where you found the bluebird and, if possible, its condition. Include your name, address and phone number. Ervin will contact you. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

See fledging report archive

A newly devised capture device has increased the number of males captured and banded. This remote controlled system is relatively inexpensive, nearly fool proof, and easy to construct.

Bluebirds provide many with unforgettable experiences while watching a young fledge or capturing that elusive male or female.

photo by Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc.

Regional Coordinators

Art Aylesworth dreams of bringing bluebirds back to the abundance he remembers from childhood.
From the book Bluebirds Forever by Connie Toops.

Mountain Bluebird Trails has yearly reported the nest box tally. To this end a number of regional coordinators has been identified. These regional volunteers have agreed to spread the word about bluebirds and to serve as a source of information about establishing, maintaining and reporting trail information. Feel free to contact any of them for help and should you wish to participate as a regional coordinator contact:

Mountain Bluebird Trails
P.O. Box 794 Ronan, MT 59864
ayleswor@ronan.net

Regional Coordinators for Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc.

Area #1 - Plains: Allen Dykstra
6003Hwy 200 Thompson Falls, MT 59873 (406)827-3209

Area #2 - St. Regis:   Nikki Clyde
                            125 MT Hwy 135 S. St. Regis, MT 59866 (406)649-2623
                             clydes@bigsky.net

Area #3 - Hot Springs:   Nora Jean Malinak
                            1125 Little Bitterroot Rd. Hot Springs, MT 59845
                            (406)741-2524
                             zookeper@hotsprings.net

Area #4 - Kalispell:   Justin Paugh
                            1490 Whalebone Dr. Kalispell, MT 59901
                            (406)755-1041
                             p0028776@fvcc.cc.mt.us

Area #5 - Eureka:   Dave French
                            P.O. Box 2065 Eureka, MT 59917
                            (406)889-3318

Area #6 - East Glacier: No Coordinator

Area #7 - Elliston:   Ric Bourie
                            40 N. Benton Apt.4 Helena, MT 59601
                            (406)439-1191
                             havepenwilltravel@excite.com

Area #8 - Clancy:   Joyce Kronholm
                            3 Middle Loop Rd. Clancy, MT 59634
                            (406)933-5453
                             joycekronholm@hotmail.com

Area #9 - Great Falls:   Tom Matsko
                            Box 2405, 1219 Central Ave.Great Falls, MT 59401
                            (406)452-1624

Area #10 - Stevensville:   Al Osellame
                            433 Sharrot Hill Loop Stevensville, MT 59870
                            (406)777-5166
                             AOsellame@aol.com

Area #11 - Silver Star:   Roger Siemens
                            5655 Hwy. 41 N. Silver Star, MT 59751
                            (406)287-5638

Area #12 - Bozeman:   Jean Perkins
                            534 N. Rouse Bozeman, MT 59715
                            (406)586-9615

Area #13 - Laurel:   Sonya Skaggs
                            R.R. 1 #78 Park City, MT 59063
                            (406)663-2622
                             sonyads@myavista.com

Area #14 - Worden: No Coordinator

Area #15 - Lewiston:   Charlie Vaughan
                            132 A Street Lewiston, MT 59457
                            (406)538-3351

Area #16 - Glasgow:   Bill Lauckner
                            HC 67 Box 203 Nashua, MT 59248
                            (406)785-4651
                             lauckner@nemontel.net

Area #17 - Twin Falls, ID:   John Meyer
                            3705 Vista Grande La. Twin Falls, ID 83301
                            (208)734-7143

Area #18 - Ronan:   Ervin Davis
                            604 North Main Charlo, MT 59824
                            (406)644-2740
                             ervdavis@blackfoot.net

                              Denise Aipperspach
                            Box 794 Ronan, MT 59864
                            (406)676-4665
                             ayleswor@ronan.net

Area #19 - Butte/Anaconda/DeerLodge:
                             Bob Miller
                            4075 Sternod Ranch Rd. Butte, MT 59701
                            (406)494-7830
                             bmiller@in-tch.com

Mountain Bluebird Trails encourages participation in its activities by anyone interested enough to care for a nestbox trail. Feel free to contact the coordinator in your area or one of the Mountain Bluebird Trails Board of Directors listed below.

Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc. Board of Directors

President

Bob Niebuhr
Term Expires 12/31/03
600 Central Ave. Suite 320
Great Falls, MT 59401
(406) 453-5143 fax# 453-3840
blubrdbob@prodigy.net

Vice President

Kent Rice
Term Expires 12/31/02
5380 Nesting Osprey Way
Helena, MT 59602
(406) 439-8430

Secretary / Treasurer

Denise Aipperspach
Term Expires 12/31/02
Box 794
Ronan, MT 59864
(406) 676-0300(w) 676-4665(h)
ayleswor@ronan.net
tires@ronan.net

Board Members
                    Tom Matsko 
    Box 2405
    1219 Central Ave.
    Great Falls, MT 59401    
    (406) 452-1624
                    Ellen Mulcare - Term Expires 12/31/02
    Box 69
    Lincoln, MT 59639
    (406) 362-4298
                    Charlie Vaughn - Term Expires 12/31/03
    132 A. St.
    Lewistown, MT 59457
    (406) 538-3351
                    Judy Whitcombe - Term Expires 12/31/03
    480 Lower Rock Creek Rd.
    Philipsburg, MT 59858    
    (406) 859-3165
    judywhit@aol.com


	References

Here are a few references on Bluebirds:

Bluebirds Forever by Connie Toops. (128 pages) A delightful book on bluebirds across the U.S. featuring Eastern, Western, and Mountain species, plus 16 pages on bird box plans. Includes an excellent section on references.
Voyageur Press with a V/MC. PO Box 338 Stillwater, MN 55082

Bluebird Trails A Guide to Success by Dorene Scriven. (253 Pages) A colorful and detailed guidebook with lots of information.
Bluebird Recovery Program, c/o Marlys Hjort, 9571 - 270th St. N. Chisago City MN, 55013

Bluebirds - The How to Book. by Fred Comstock (68 pages) This book is full of useful and accurate information. What you need to know is found here.
Fredrick W. Comstick, 168 Main St. N. Bethlehem, CT 06751


	Bluebird Links

		North American Bluebird Society: www.nabluebirdsociety.org The Nest Box: www.nestbox.com Phil's Bluebird Page: www.mpls.k12.mn.us/~pheo/Blueb.html Cornell Nest Box Network: http://birdsource.cornell.edu/cnbn/ The Bluebird Web Ring: http://neun.com/bbring/home.cgi

Thanks to Connie Toops for permission to use photographs from the book Bluebirds Forever.

Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc.
P. O. Box 794
Ronan, MT 59864
406-676-0300
ayleswor@ronan.net