Encouraging swifts and swallows on the Organic Farm

Encouraging Swifts and Swallows on the Organic Farm

Allison Manthorne [email protected] 1(506) 364-5196www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/ai

Overview1. What is SwiftWatch?

2. What are “Aerial Insectivores”?

Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Tree Swallow Chimney Swift

3. How can I help? Nesting Habitat Around the farm Citizen Science

4. Get in touch! Mark Peck

Maritimes SwiftWatch Citizen Science program launched in

2011 in NB and NS

Objectives: Identify Chimney Swift nest and

roost sites Encourage stewardship Protect habitat Monitor population

Activities: Chimney Swift roost counts, nest

checks Swift Night Out events New in 2015: swift and swallow

project Erin Brethauer, Asheville Citizen-Times

Aerial Insectivores A group of birds that specialize in a diet of

flying insects

Different habitats, wintering ranges, human disturbance but similar diets

Flycatchers Nightjars SwiftsSwallows

Alan Schmierer

Kenneth Cole Schneider

Steve Benoit CB Stokes

Source: North American Bird Conservation Initiative Canada. 2012. The State of Canada's Birds, 2012. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada. 36 pages.

Source: North American Bird Conservation Initiative Canada. 2012. The State of Canada's Birds, 2012. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada. 36 pages.

Barn Swallow Steely blue head and back Brown forehead and throat Tan-coloured belly Deeply forked tail Nest is an open mud cup

Lip Kee Yap Bryant Olsen

Barn Swallow Threatened across Canada Population declined by more

than 75% since 1960s Threats: habitat loss, climate

change, disappearance of insect prey

Bryant OlsenLip Kee Yap

Cliff Swallow Dark blue-black head and

back White forehead, dark throat White belly Tail not forked Nest is an enclosed mud pod

Dan Debold Carol Foll

Cliff Swallow Population is declining but

not yet threatened Threats: habitat loss, nest

destruction, climate change, disappearance of insect prey

Lip Kee Yap Carol Foll

Tree Swallow Iridescent blue-green back

and head White throat and belly Tail not forked Nest is built inside nestbox

or tree cavity and lined with feathers and straw

First swallow to return in spring

Mark Peck Jon Benson

Tree Swallow Populations declining but not

yet threatened Threats: climate change,

disappearance of insect prey Readily accepts nestboxes

Jon BensonMark Peck

Chimney Swift Charcoal grey Stubby, spiky tail Pale throat Bow-and-arrow

silhouette “cigar with wings” Constant twittering call

Abian Sacks Bruce DiLabio

Mark Elderkin

Chimney Swift Threatened across

Canada Population declined by

95% since 1960s Habitat loss, climate

change, nest destruction, disappearance of insects

Check out “How to be a good Chimney Swift host”

Mark Elderkin

Ontario SwiftWatchAbian Sacks

How can we help swifts and

swallows on organic farms?

1. Maintain or Create Nesting Habitat 2. Maintain Foraging Habitat 3. Become a Citizen ScientistChristian Artuso

Maintain Nesting Habitat

Action: Provide an access point

to suitable buildings by leaving open a door or window

Benefits: Barn Swallows Cliff Swallows Chimney Swifts

banbe1964

William Garrett


Action: Maintain a source of

mud near barns and other buildings

Benefits: Barn Swallows Cliff Swallows

Heathyr

Peter Kelly


Action: Resist the temptation to

remove old nests -swallows often reuse them

Benefits: Barn Swallows Cliff Swallows

Mark Peck


Action: Mount artificial nest

cups or shelves in a sheltered area out of reach of predators (rats, racoons, cats)

Benefits: Barn Swallow, Eastern

Phoebe, Robin © 2013, American Artifacts and Richard Van Vleck, Taneytown, Maryland.

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Action: Mount nest boxes in

an open area, out of reach of predators (rats, racoons, cats)

Benefits: Tree Swallows, Eastern

BluebirdsJon Benson

Maintain Foraging Habitat

Action: Provide open areas

that support aerial insects

Examples: Marshes, ponds,

streams Grasslands, pastures Barnyards Right-of-ways Richle Diesterheft

Become a Citizen Scientist

Volunteers share their energy, skill, and bird sightings through research and monitoring programs:

Maritimes SwiftWatch

Project NestWatch

Swifts and Swallows

www.birdscanada.org/volunteer

Allison Manthorne

Complete our Landowner Survey! What species are found on your property?

What actions have you taken to encourage or discourage nesting swifts and swallows?

What motivates you to encourage or discourage nesting swifts and swallows on your property?

What is your level of awareness regarding swifts and swallow threats and protection?

How can Bird Studies Canada support you as a steward and citizen scientist?

Rob Mueller

Complete our Landowner Survey!

Provide your contact information for a chance to win a copy of Woodworking for Wildlife by Carol L. Henderson! Includes thirty designs for nest

boxes and nest platforms that will accommodate forty-six species of wildlife

easy-to-follow diagrams for cutting out and assembling the nest boxes

over three hundred beautiful color photographs

Rob Mueller

Attention PEI farmers:

Since 2012 Island Nature Trust has been working with farmers and other rural landowners to:

Collect breeding observations of Barn Swallow and Bobolink

Maintain nesting habitat for Barn Swallows and Bobolink

Manage grassland for nesting Bobolink

© Natalie Loo

Shannon [email protected]

To find out more or to participate in this project contact:

Landowners on PEI can participate by:

This landowner did not want to keep their barn doors open but wanted to allow access for swallows. A simple fix!

Opening buildings in April to allow access to Barn Swallow Maintaining a supply of mud for nesting Barn Swallow Installing nest ledges Reporting observations of Barn Swallow and Bobolink Monitoring these species on their property Delaying hay harvest until after July 7

AcknowledgementsThank you to our tireless volunteers, participating landowners, project partners and supporters.

Keep in touch!

www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/ai

@Mar_Swifts Maritimes.Swifts

To find out more or to participate in this project on PEI, contact Shannon Mader: [email protected] 1 (902) 892-7523

Allison Manthorne, Maritimes SwiftWatch

[email protected] 1(506) 364-5196