What is it about?
Barn swallows have experienced significant declines in Europe and North America. Declines may partly be ascribed to lack nesting sites due to closure of farmland stables. This study shows that artificial nests is a possible conservation option for swallows breeding in more urbanized habitats, barn swallows accept such nests and the breeding success is good.
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Why is it important?
This study documents that artificial man-made nests may be a suitable breeding option for barn swallows occupying urban habitats, since barn swallows gradually adapted to these nests, the number of broods raised in artificial nests increased from 16% in 2012 to 52% in 2016. Reproductive output from artificial nests was higher than natural nests, and predation rates were low and of a similar magnitude to that of natural nests.
Perspectives
From a conservation perspective artificial nests may constitute a possible measure that could be used to halt the decline of barn swallows, which has been observed in many European countries.
Peter Teglhøj
Svendborg Gymnasium
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Artificial nests for Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica: a conservation option for a declining passerine?, Bird Study, July 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2018.1516192.
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