REGINA – The arrival of spring means aerial insectivores have returned to Saskatchewan, says Nature Saskatchewan.
This group of birds includes at-risk species such as the Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common Nighthawk, and Chimney Swift; which can be found in both urban and prairie environments throughout the summer months.
“Aerial insectivores catch and consume insects mid-flight, and are therefore fantastic at pest control. The presence of these natural predators benefits both people and livestock,” explains Emily Putz, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator at Nature Saskatchewan. “These at-risk species thrive on large insect populations and can help make the summer more pleasant in the yard or pasture. Their wide, gaping mouths and agility in the sky allow for the capture of a wide variety of flying insects.”
The Bank Swallow is a cavity nester and excavates its nest on the face of steep, vertical cliffs such as stream banks. Breeding colonies range from a handful of pairs to a few thousand, and are found across Canada. They fly over open habitats, eating between 25 and 50 per cent of their body weight in insects each day; They can be identified by their brown backs and white fronts, with a brown band across their breast, as well as their buzzing calls. They will often congregate on roadways, especially where another swallow has been hit by a vehicle, causing road mortality to occur in clusters and posing a significant risk to their population.
The Barn Swallow is found throughout the Prairie Provinces, and typically nests on human-made structures, such as barns, sheds, and bridges. They forage for insect prey over grasslands and agricultural fields, wetlands, and other open spaces, eating upwards of 60 insects per hour (that’s over 850 insects per day.). They can be identified by their metallic blue and cinnamon-coloured bodies and deeply forked tail. Their call is a short “cheep”, or a two-toned “chi-deep” when alarmed.
The Common Nighthawk is most active at dawn and dusk, and uses its mottled brown-and-white plumage to camouflage when perched on the ground. In flight, they can be identified by a distinct white vertical band on each wing, while their call is a nasal, single-noted “peent”. They are able to adapt to a wide range of habitats and roost on exposed ground, or artificial structures such as flat gravel roofs. They feast on numerous insects such as mosquitoes, beetles, and grasshoppers.
Chimney Swifts, found in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan, have adapted to nest directly inside old chimney columns. They spend the vast majority of their time flying, catching and eating up to 12,000 insects daily. Due to their small size, both the ‘Swifts’ and their nests do not block chimneys, meaning they pose a minimal risk to infrastructure.
Unfortunately, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common Nighthawk, and Chimney Swift populations have all declined steeply in the last 50 years, leading to their listings as at-risk species. Bank and Barn Swallow populations alone have declined by 98 per cent across their range over this time. The decline of aerial insectivores mirrors losses in insect populations attributed to pesticide use, habitat loss and climate change. These species also are often the victims of road mortality.
Nature Saskatchewan’s voluntary stewardship program, Stewards of Saskatchewan (SOS), works with nearly 250 land stewards to conserve habitat for species-at-risk and monitor population numbers in Saskatchewan. SOS records sightings to help determine the distribution of these species throughout the province. This information can then be used towards efforts to conserve and restore the habitat and population of these beneficial bird species. “Without the voluntary efforts of land stewards and the general public, recovery of these agile bird species would not be possible” says Putz. She encourages the public to report sightings of these or any other species at risk to Nature Saskatchewan’s toll-free HOOT Line. Private information is never shared without permission. If you see any of these species in Saskatchewan or would like more information about the Stewards of Saskatchewan program, please call Nature Saskatchewan’s toll-free line at 1-800-667-HOOT (4668), text (306) 780-9832, or email us at [email protected]. Please also feel free to share photos, as we love to see them.
— Submitted by Nature Saskatchewan
