Ask a Ranger: Monitoring Western Bluebirds in northern Arizona

Have you ever seen a Western Bluebird sitting quietly on a branch 10-15 feet up, then suddenly dive straight down to the ground, only to quickly return to the branch to munch on a tasty insect? Bluebirds are insectivores and grasshoppers are one of their favorite foods.

Western Bluebirds are frequent spring and summer residents of northern Arizona. They are often seen flying among the ponderosas of the Coconino National Forest. Frank and Sandy Schrader, hosts at Bonito Campground adjacent to Sunset Crater NM, said, “We see lots of bluebirds around the campground.”