Tree Swallow Ecology Project
This long-term study of the phenology and ecology of nesting swallows began on Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in the mid 1990s. Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and other species of aerial insectivores are currently in decline–especially at Northern latitudes. Since interior Alaska is the northern extent of Tree Swallows’ breeding range, ASI is in an ideal position to evaluate their response to changing environmental conditions.
Today, students ages 10-18 partner with ASI scientists through our youth mentoring and high school internship programs to monitor 150 nest boxes at Creamer’s Field and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks campus. We closely monitor the chronology and success of each nest. We also band any unbanded swallows to determine the site’s fidelity and the population’s longevity.
Alaska Swallow Monitoring Network
The Alaska Swallow Monitoring Network is an ASI-monitored partnership between Alaskan scientists and communities working together to monitor climate change impacts on boreal birds. Network participants monitor the phenology and success of nesting Tree Swallows across the state, building a large data set that can better reveal population trends and changes in breeding phenology and success.
Together we are studying Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), migratory songbirds that readily use nest boxes around human development. Swallows are aerial insectivores. Many aerial insectivores are declining throughout their ranges, but most rapidly in the north. They are highly sensitive to changes in seasonal timing (called phenology).
The network also aims to build STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) literacy, job skills, and career awareness in participants, and develops ecological and climate literacy in host communities. Are you interested in joining the Alaska Swallow Monitoring Network? See these instructions for help setting up your station, nest banding protocols, bird banding protocols, data entry protocols, and ethics and safety information.