Is this gorgeous, or what?
The Ellis Bird Farm is one of our favourite places to visit every summer.
The Bird Farm is both a working farm as well as a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Mountain Bluebirds, Tree Swallows and other native cavity nesting birds. It all started in 1955 with siblings Charlie and Winnie Ellis putting out a nesting box for a pair of mountain bluebirds. Charlie began to build LOTS of bird boxes and eventually had a trail of 300 bluebird boxes that he checked daily.
By the late 1970's there were more mountain bluebirds nesting here on the Ellis farm than anywhere else on earth. It is a special place.
A favourite spot for photos is always in front of the old granary.
We visited on a quiet and cloudy day in mid July.
A dusk filter on the photos desaturates them. I find the farm
one of the most peaceful and beautiful places to spend an afternoon.
one of the most peaceful and beautiful places to spend an afternoon.
The dipping pond is always a fun stop.
A little tractor faux racing in front of the barnyard where you'll find...
... lambs, goats & their kids, and chickens. Definitely the girls' favourite.
My favourite: worn out bird boxes turned into flower boxes!
A favourite American public television station recently did a short feature
on the farm and their work. You can watch it here:
and get a real feel for this wonderful place.
Thanks for visiting!
Linking up to:
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| Mockingbird Hill Cottage |
This looks like a beautiful farm. And your photos are gorgeous. Thanks for taking me along on the journey.
ReplyDeleteHolly
Ditto the comment above, gorgeous photos!!! What a fun way to bring kids (and parents) closer to nature. I especially love the side of the little weathered building with the bench attached. I want that in my back yard. :@
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool place! This is the kind of place I would want to visit if I ever make it up your way. (Also, the Mountain Bluebird is the Idaho State bird!) I love those flower-topped birdhouses, and your camera filter makes them look so interesting. Oh... I'll pin it!
ReplyDeleteI love this farm. Wish I lived closer I'd be there today. Thanks for sharing the tour on Simple & Sweet Fridays.
ReplyDeleteJody
What a lovely farm! And, that's a great idea using the old bird houses for planters. Those would fit nicely on our shabby building. . .need to talk to hubby. . .
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, lovely place to spend a day. So beautiful and calm.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Mary Alice
Looks like a grand place to visit.
ReplyDeleteI love, love those old bird houses turned flower boxes, clever.
Thanks for sharing.
Michele
It is gorgeous, indeed! Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteRuth>
Thanks for a look at this fantastic farm.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning bird farm .. I can only imagine that I wouldn't want to leave such a place full of beauty and serene living.
ReplyDeleteI must agree that I love the old bird boxes turned flower boxes too .. it surely makes the heart smile.
Found you via Common Ground..
Blessings ..Sara
blue birds ....I love them...and they are a rarity....One day my sis and I decided, to have a sister day...So we head out and turn on a back road,a blue bird flys right in front of us...wow. Good sign...we hit the back road to Custer State Park and stop for a short hike. Blue bird on the fence ...good sign...we spot the normal squirrels, chipmunks, beaver getting around their pond was tough...a few doe and their fawns. Then on to Custer and we take the wildlife loop...ok we see Buffalo and Antelope but no Elk. We head over to Rushmore and find Dahl sheep, then a Mountain goat they are shy...cool we are on a wildlife run....we see some cool owls on another back road...and then head down RimRock to go back to the family home...WHOOOO is that a buck...OOO stop back up and we do....3 Elk on the outskirt of a large meadow....we never see them this low....hurray a perfect Wildlife day...Blue bird Luck is what my Sis and I call it now...
ReplyDeleteLooks like a really fun place to visit. Your photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow, your photographs are amazing. The girls walking down the road and the garden on the hill and the girls by the pond (all of them) are just so fun to enjoy looking through. Thanks for taking the shots and sharing them. I love getting a glimpse into other people's lives and the places I will likely never get to see in person. So sweet.
ReplyDeleteLiz
It's so nice to meet you. I am your neighbor to the south in Idaho. The Ellis Bird Farm is such a wonderful place. Oh how fortunate you are to visit and how kind of you to share your visit with us! I am your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Susan and Bentley
What an amazing place - I love birdhouses :-)
ReplyDeleteI am a new follower from Mockingbird Hill.
What a beautiful place to spend a day. Love the birdhouses! I have never seen a real bluebird, but I have heard their numbers are increasing, so maybe someday. Thanks for sharing, Love, Linda
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful place to visit - love the wall of flowering bird houses! Thanks for sharing this trip to the farm over at Claudia's Favorite Things party. Mary
ReplyDeleteHi, just visiting, and now following you, from Mockingbird Hill. Raised in AB but live in BC now.
ReplyDeleteJoy
Love this place - oh my gosh, how special and peaceful it is. I love the birdhouses turned planters and the rustic, aged quality of everything on the farm. Thanks so much for joining in this week!
ReplyDeletexo
Claudia
Love those little bird houses with the flowers sticking out of the top. It looks like an interesting place to visit.
ReplyDeleteBalisha
I can see why you love going there. I love the old birdhouses that have been turned into flower boxes. What a clever idea. Just found and followed you from Claudia's, party :)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Laura
What a lovely spot! I would enjoy some time there as well. It feels very peaceful. I love bluebirds and we have one box in our yard!! Hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteOh wow -- these are gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteA lovely place for roaming.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a wonderful place to visit! I was so happy to hear that the bluebird population is increasing now, even down here in the States. I have a box in my yard but so far only sparrows and other small birds are in it (and of course the squirrels!). So happy to have found your blog! Linda
ReplyDeleteI am completely charmed by this wonderful old farm. What a fab idea for old birdhouses, so simple, yet beautiful. The photo of the bluebird is amazing, such a blue! Thank you for sharing this. I am visiting your blog through Claudia's blog party. Very nice to meet you. I loved in your profile the comment about using functions other than Auto! LOL! that's me! oh, and I am half-Canadian!
ReplyDeleteThis is a special place indeed. My brother hung up owl boxes when he was in primary school. :-) And I might just add a few to the one I have on the barn here. Happy Sunday to you
ReplyDeleteRegula
What a beautiful place, Tracy! Thank you so much for posting about it. Those cast off bird boxes with flowers planted in them are so lovely. And what a wonderful service the Ellis family is providing. No wonder it's one of your favorite things. Take care.
ReplyDelete