barn swallow habitat structure

Hopefully an encouraging development involves the Barn Swallow kiosk in the south meadow at Lemoine Point.

Cataraqui Conservation erected it two years ago to provide barn swallow nesting sites, in cooperation with the Friends, the Kingston Field Naturalists and others. Like many such structures, the swallows haven’t really taken to it, though this summer many were seen sitting on and flying around it. To try and improve it, Cataraqui Conservation staff this summer added partial walls that have been successful elsewhere, plus created a muddy area for the swallows to get the mud that they use in building their nests.

So let’s see how well that works when the swallows return next spring!