By editor
Judith Basin County, South of Stanford
In the foothills of the Little Belt Mountains, where the prairie begins to lift into ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, a remarkable conservation effort has transformed the landscape. Beginning in 1991, local conservationists established a network of over one hundred nest boxes along the rural roads south of Stanford. This "trail" was designed specifically to support the Mountain Bluebird, a species that relies on secondary cavities for nesting.
The result is a reliable and visually stunning concentration of these birds. The male Mountain Bluebird, a creature of intense, cerulean blue, seems to absorb and radiate the color of the high-altitude sky. From late March through September, the bluebirds can be seen perched on the wire fences and the boxes themselves, dropping to the ground to catch insects. The boxes also attract Tree Swallows, which glide and swoop over the grassy meadows in pursuit of flying insects.
Visitor Access
The Bluebird Trail is not a hiking path, but an auto route along public county roads, including Dry Wolf Road, Running Wolf Road, and Divide Road. There are no fees or gates. Birders can drive slowly along the route, pulling over safely to observe the boxes. The best viewing is from the vehicle, which acts as a blind and prevents disturbance to the nesting birds. The roads are generally well-maintained gravel, accessible to standard passenger vehicles in dry weather.