As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday 10 December 2015

Organic farmers helping bring back swallows, chimney swifts

Bird Studies Canada wants to see 2 threatened bird species back on New Brunswick farms

CBC News Posted: Nov 22, 2015 3:30 PM AT Last Updated: Nov 22, 2015 3:30 PM AT

One group is trying to reintroduce two birds to New Brunswick farmers and their land.

Bird Studies Canada in Sackville wants to see swallows and chimney swifts back on farms, so they surveyed organic farmers in southeastern New Brunswick to see if they are willing to encourage the animals to nest.

Both swallows and chimney swifts are threatened in New Brunswick and Alison Manthorne is trying to revitalize the populations.

"We found out that the majority of landowners were keen on supporting swifts and swallows on their land. Many didn't know what they should and shouldn't be doing to encourage the birds. A lot just wanted ideas on how they could help."

According to Manthorne, most of the farmers surveyed have memories of both birds frequenting their properties growing up.

"They are aerial insectivores … so they feed on flying insects and the group as a whole are declining more rapidly than any other bird group in Canada," said Manthorne.

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