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Widely distributed in Canada, the Tree Swallow is a familiar swallow of open fields, meadows, marshes and other wetlands. The Breeding Bird Survey indicates a moderate decrease in its Canadian population since about 1970. Causes for the decline are unclear. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
In the 1980s, there was a negative change point in the Breeding Bird Survey population trends of swallows, swifts, and nightjars across most of North America (Smith et al. 2015). Indeed, the Tree Swallow is one of several species of aerial-foraging insectivores showing widespread declines in Canada. Causes of these declines remain unclear, but changes in aerial insect populations have been suggested as one possible common factor as well as landscape changes, insecticides, and climate change (Blancher et al. 2009, Nebel et al. 2010). The Tree Swallow is a cavity-nester that uses natural holes in trees where available, but also readily accepts nest boxes. It may also be negatively affected by reduced nest-site availability and/or competition with House Sparrows and European Starlings (Robertson et al. 1992).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.