Did you know that our very own Bickleton in Klickitat County is known as the Bluebird Capitol of the WORLD? It's so called because thousands of bluebirds spend most of the year in the area. Bickleton has become a bluebird-watchers' paradise.
The area was first settled by Charles Bickle in 1879; he established a trading post and livery stable. Like most early residents, he was also a rancher and wheat farmer. A series of fires in 1937 and 1947 destroyed many of the town's original buildings; the oldest surviving building is the Bluebird Inn which opened in 1882 and still serves guests.
In the 1960s, Jess and Elva Brinkerhoff were picnicking in this small town and put a can in a tree for some birds. This quickly became a local fad and now there are thousands of birdhouses purposely built to house bluebirds. Both Mountain and Western Bluebirds come; the above is a Western Bluebird.
And "thousands" of bluebird watchers come every year to see these very special birds. Have you been one? Want to be one?
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