As the 19th season of our Western Bluebird Reintroduction Project comes to a close, we are excited to share some incredible highlights from this year’s efforts. Through the combined work of our dedicated staff, volunteers, landowners, and partners, we’ve seen remarkable growth in the Western Bluebird population on San Juan Island and beyond.
This Year’s Highlights:
- 28 adult bluebirds returned to San Juan Island in 2025, marking a 33% increase over last year’s population. This was the second highest number of returning bluebirds we’ve seen in the history of the project!
- 79 baby bluebirds successfully hatched on the island, representing a 50% increase in fledglings compared to 2024.
Bluebirds nesting in a snag at Red Mill Farm Preserve | Staff Archive
- Out of the 17 nests we monitored this season, only 2 nests failed, both due to the unfortunate death of an adult bird, which is a significant improvement over previous years.
- For the first time, we observed a pair of bluebirds nesting in a natural snag at our Red Mill Farm Preserve, further emphasizing the importance of these dead trees as habitats for cavity nesters.
Cross-Border Success:
The momentum didn’t stop at the U.S. border. In partnership with BC Conservation Foundation, we’ve seen great progress in British Columbia:
- 20 adult bluebirds returned to Vancouver Island, including 9 pairs and 2 lone males.
- 5 pairs of bluebirds successfully raised two clutches each, resulting in a steady increase in the population.
- 72 young bluebirds were added to the population, either through nestlings born in British Columbia or those brought from Washington State as part of a translocation effort.
- Two pairs of bluebirds were also moved from Washington to the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, where they’ve settled in nicely and are raising new families.
Above: Video highlighting SJPT’s 2025 Western Bluebird translocation on San Juan Island
Community and Volunteer Impact:
None of this would have been possible without the tireless efforts of our volunteers. This year, we are especially grateful to Rynnie Wilson, who earned the Golden Nestbox Award for her outstanding work in monitoring and maintaining nest boxes throughout the season.
A huge thank you also goes out to our Canadian counterpart, Jacqui Taylor, Project Coordinator of the Cowichan Bring Back the Bluebird Project. Her partnership has been instrumental in expanding the reach of the project across borders and furthering the recovery of the Western Bluebird population.