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The Estonian Ornithological Society has nominated the barn swallow as the Bird of the year 2011. The background to the choice is the steady decline in numbers of our national bird during the last 10 years.

According to the ornithologists, breeding barn swallows in Estonia are fewer by each year. Thus our national bird and the signature bird of the Ornithological Society needs more public attention.

The decreasing number of barn swallows is for one thing related to the massive changes in European agriculture and the development of rural areas that have left tens of thousands of barn swallows without suitable nest sites. The decline in animal farming and the concentration of the animals into closed livestock buildings has reduced the availability of the barn swallows’ basic food, flies. As long-distance migrants barn swallows are also influenced by conditions along  their migrating paths and in the wintering areas.
Birds wintering in South Africa must cross the widening Sahara desert twice a year, tolerate increasingly unforeseeable weather conditions and find wintering areas that offer enough food for surviving the winter.
In the Year of the Barn swallow its life conditions and ecological role will be described and different ways of supporting the nesting of barn swallows where all can contribute will be shown. More detailed information about the state and distribution of barn swallows in Estonia will also be collected with the assistance of bird friends.

Mati Kose and Meelis Uustal mastermind the Year of the barn swallow.
The Estonian Ornithological Society nominate a Bird of the year already for the 17th year. The aim of the nomination is to introduce a bird or group of birds nesting in Estonia to the public and to engage people in observing and protecting the bird of the year
More information: Mati Kose, 523 6926