{"id":2291,"date":"2013-05-30T08:39:50","date_gmt":"2013-05-30T12:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=2291"},"modified":"2013-11-14T12:12:04","modified_gmt":"2013-11-14T17:12:04","slug":"the-plight-of-the-swallows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-plight-of-the-swallows\/","title":{"rendered":"The Plight of the Swallows"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-2292\" title=\"Barn Swallows copyright Richard Johnson\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/05\/wellfleet_barnswallow_RichardJohnson.jpg\" width=\"372\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/05\/wellfleet_barnswallow_RichardJohnson.jpg 516w, https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/05\/wellfleet_barnswallow_RichardJohnson-300x242.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px\" \/>Every spring and summer, swallows grace our skies with their aerial acrobatics, diving to catch insects in mid-flight. Yet, Mass Audubon\u2019s 2011 <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/our-conservation-work\/wildlife-research-conservation\/statewide-bird-monitoring\/state-of-the-birds\" target=\"_blank\">State of the Birds<\/a><\/em><\/strong> report had troubling news: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/StateoftheBirds\/species_account.php?spc=CLSW\" target=\"_blank\">cliff swallows<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0are rapidly declining and in need of urgent conservation action while barn swallows are showing the initial signs of wide-ranging decline.<\/p>\n<p>The reasons for these declines are currently unknown (though we have our suspicions). One thing is clear: we need to unravel the mystery to help these agile birds, and fast! That\u2019s where you come in.<\/p>\n<p><b>How You Can Help<br \/>\n<\/b>Here\u2019s what we know about the swallow situation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Barn swallows and cliff swallows rely on man-made structures to place their nests. Barns, bridges, and overpasses are all likely spots.<\/li>\n<li>Many of these locations are disappearing from the Massachusetts landscape.<\/li>\n<li>The ones that are still standing are also favored by the house sparrow, a non-native, aggressive bird that<b> <\/b>readily kick swallows out of their nests and destroys colonies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In order to figure out how these factors are at play, as well as other issues like climate change and toxic chemicals, we need to learn more about how swallows are making their living in Massachusetts. Enter the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/Birds_and_Birding\/birdstowatch\/bigbarnstudy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Big Barn Study<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>From now until July 8, we\u2019re asking willing volunteers to visit at least one potential barn swallow or cliff swallow nesting location three times. You don\u2019t need to know in advance if barn swallows or cliff swallows are present (in fact, it is better that you don\u2019t). Then report what you find (or don\u2019t find). It\u2019s as easy as that.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about the project, including how to identify barn swallows and cliff swallows as well as house sparrows, at our <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/get-involved\/citizen-science\/report-a-bird-sighting\/birds-to-watch\/big-barn-study\" target=\"_blank\">Big Barn Study site<\/a><\/strong>. Thank you in advance for helping to keep our skies full of dancing, bug-eating swallows.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Photo, barn swallows \u00a9 Richard Johnson<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every spring and summer, swallows grace our skies with their aerial acrobatics, diving to catch insects in mid-flight. Yet, Mass Audubon\u2019s 2011 State of the Birds report had troubling news: cliff swallows\u00a0are rapidly declining and in need of urgent conservation action while barn swallows are showing the initial signs of wide-ranging decline. The reasons for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[28,121,122],"class_list":["post-2291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-get-involved","tag-birds","tag-citizen-science","tag-swallows"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-AX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12428,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-grumpy-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":2291,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Grumpy Birds","author":"Ryan D.","date":"March 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Another snowed-in Monday got you feeling a little blah? These grumpy-looking birds know how you feel. Or, at least, they look like they do. At any rate, here's hoping they'll take a bit of the edge off your winter blues. These photos were all submitted to our annual Picture This:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snowy Owl \u00a9 Diane Robertson","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/2786Diane_Robertson9937-2014.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/2786Diane_Robertson9937-2014.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/2786Diane_Robertson9937-2014.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/2786Diane_Robertson9937-2014.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12762,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-baby-food\/","url_meta":{"origin":2291,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Baby Food","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Brace yourself for a serious cuteness overload. It's baby bird season in Massachusetts! Baby birds can be a lot of fun to watch (from a distance) as they hatch, grow, and eventually fledge. It's true that young birds face naturally tough odds for survival, but that's nature's way of maintaining\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Goldfinches \u00a9 Roberto De Souza","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/3834Roberto_DeSouza15172.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/3834Roberto_DeSouza15172.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/3834Roberto_DeSouza15172.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/3834Roberto_DeSouza15172.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9306,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-tree-swallows\/","url_meta":{"origin":2291,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Tree Swallows","author":"Hillary T.","date":"August 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Aerodynamic and graceful, a tree swallow is most often seen in the sky as it gleans insects on the wing. It is about the size of a chickadee, and is an iridescent blue above and white below. Tree swallows are often seen in small flocks foraging over ponds or fields,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Photo Contest&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Photo Contest","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/photo-contest-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"\u00a9 Ann Marie Lally","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/08\/AnnMarieLally600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/08\/AnnMarieLally600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/08\/AnnMarieLally600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12716,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-nest-builders\/","url_meta":{"origin":2291,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Nest Builders","author":"Ryan D.","date":"May 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The varied landscapes of Massachusetts provide nesting spots for nearly 200 bird species and spring is prime time for nest-building and brooding. You may have seen birds flitting back and forth with beaks full of twigs, grasses, and even plastic refuse to fortify their nests, which may pop up in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tree Swallow \u00a9 Steve Nikola","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/4680Steve_Nikola21176.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/4680Steve_Nikola21176.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/4680Steve_Nikola21176.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/4680Steve_Nikola21176.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6858,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/last-month-in-birding-december-2015\/","url_meta":{"origin":2291,"position":4},"title":"Last Month in Birding: December 2015","author":"Rosemary","date":"January 12, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"December brought another month of amazing bird sightings to Massachusetts. Here are a few interesting observations as suggested by our experts. Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) This is a bird\u00a0of wide open spaces in the west, where it breeds at higher elevations but overwinters on the grasslands and plains. It often\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nature Notes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/01\/blackchinned.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/01\/blackchinned.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/01\/blackchinned.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4753,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-splendid-swarms\/","url_meta":{"origin":2291,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Splendid Swarms","author":"Rosemary","date":"February 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"When animals gather in large groups, they form fascinating patterns. This fact hasn't escaped our Photo Contest participants. Here are five of our favorite images of wildlife en masse.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/NancyBloom-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/NancyBloom-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/NancyBloom-2013.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2291"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2936,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2291\/revisions\/2936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}