In many parts of the country bluebird numbers have decreased dramatically due to competition for nesting cavities with the European Starling, an aggressive non-native species. Each year TMBC volunteers maintain and monitor a "trail" of nest boxes. During the mating and nesting season (February through July) we monitor the nest building, egg laying and fledging of the young Western Bluebirds. Records are forwarded to the North American Bluebird Society.

Anybody wishing to install a bluebird-nesting box on their property, or those who would like to join the bluebird trail monitoring teams, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Bluebird-One, or call 821-6477.

IMPORTANT DOWNLOADS:
How to build a proper nestbox
Nest box placement
How to monitor nestboxes
Monitoring worksheet from Cornell NestWatch (this link will download the NestWatch Datasheet PDF)

TMBC Bluebird Trail Statistics

The TMBC annually publishes a Birds of the Tehachapis checklist, an official listing of approximately 250 known bird species of the Tehachapi Mountains, collected through members' sightings.

For over 100 years during the holiday season approximately 2000 local birding organizations have selected a 24 hour period to attempt to count all the birds within each count's 15-mile diameter circle. Sponsored by the National Audubon Society, the results are forwarded to Cornell University for collation and publishing. These records provide scientists invaluable long term monitoring of bird populations. TMBC sponsors two of these annual counts, the Tehachapi and the Bear Valley/Cummings Valley counts. View comparative charts of all our CBC sightings.

The TMBC has partnered with the Golden Hills Community Services District, the Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District, and the California Department of Fish & Game restore and monitor wildlife habitat in the area of the Antelope Dam and along the Antelope Run Trail.

Working with educational institutions, wildlife organizations, and field biologists, the TMBC has and continues to survey and monitor several local bird populations.

Purple Martins. A unique colony of Purple Martins nest here in the Tehachapis. Members survey nesting sights each spring and summer.

Band-tail Pigeons. TMBC is working with the U.S. Geodetic Survey tracking Band-tail Pigeon migration from their home here in the Tehachapis.

California Condors. In cooperation with the California Condor Recovery Program and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, TMBC members report on location, activity and wellness of California Condors when from time to time these birds are in the area.

From 2000 to 2002, TMBC conducted a census of Turkey Vultures migrating east along the Tehachapi Valley flyway corridor. Moving to their winter ranges, normally 30,000 to 40,000 Turkey Vultures pass overhead during September and October. Full census statistics are presented.