[NatureNS] Swallow and other declines

Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 18:24:02 -0300
From: iamclar@dal.ca
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All:

THere are a couple of oddities in the NS list. Indeed, all swallows  
have crashed somewhat (BBS), but the Tree Swallow least and the Bank  
Swallow most so. Is the latter on the list? I did some casual  
assessment of arrival times of all 4 species from "NS Birds" records,  
and found that Tree and Barn (which winter in s. USA-Mexico - had  
adjusted their arrival times - about 2 weeks earlier since the 1950s,  
and Bank and Cliff (wintering into S. Am.) have not. So that may be an  
issue. There's no shortage of nest sites for Cliff and Tree Swallows,  
of course, and both still benefit from anthropogenic nest sites.

Another anomaly (?) in the updated list is the inclusion of E.  
Wood-Pewee. Its population seems to have been remarkably stationary.  
Likewise Least Flycatcher. This has been taken by some as reflecting a  
causal link with reduction of flying insect in open country (from  
agricultural and domestic insecticides), but not in forest/scrub  
habitats. So, C. Nighthawk, swallows, E. Kingbird and the like are all  
in trouble.

Cheers, Ian

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