BBEMA Joins Tree Swallow Conservation Efforts

BBEMA is excited to have joined the Cross-watershed Tree Swallow Box Program – which is a partnership between several watershed groups across PEI. The program aims to establish a standardized tree swallow monitoring program across the Queens County region with the intention of banding tree swallows and monitoring nesting success.

This summer (2025) BBEMA has installed and is monitoring 16 tree Swallow nesting boxes around the watershed as part of this new group project.

Tree swallows are cavity nesting birds but are unable to excavate their own holes. As such, providing habitat with tree swallow nesting boxes goes a long way in providing a safe space to nest and raise their young.

In recent years tree swallow populations have been in decline (about 0.7 per cent a year).

Tree Swallows are insectivores – continued increases in the use of pesticides has decreased not only the quantity but also the quality of food sources available for swallows.

Monitoring so far has shown BBEMA’s Swallow boxes to be very busy with nesting pairs