Barn Swallow Relocation Project
Founded in September 2017, A Home for Hooves Farm Sanctuary is a volunteer-run registered charity located in Duncan, BC. We provide a forever home for rescued, abandoned, seized, and surrendered farm animals. We are proud to be Canada’s first accredited sanctuary for farm animals, and we have maintained our accreditation since November 2020.
On April 30, 2024, we successfully purchased a 40-acre property in Duncan, which includes a large barn where we had 15 active wild barn swallow nests. As much as we love the swallows’ presence, they posed a risk to our animal and human residents as these birds can be carrying communicable diseases. We needed to relocate these nests to ensure the birds have a place to return to in the spring to build their nests, while keeping them a safe distance from our residents.
As part of the swallow habitat enhancement project funded through The Rix Family Foundationʻs generous support, three large swallow nesting structures have been constructed and installed on the property. Together, these structures provide a total of 30 individual, private nesting sites.
Approximately 80% of the sites are outfitted with small wooden nesting cups, built to the recommended specifications outlined in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s publication, “Creating Nesting Habitat for Swallows.”
Each nesting structure stands approximately 10 feet tall and is anchored securely using 6×6 pressure-treated posts cemented into the ground. This ensures long-term stability and reduces the risk of rot. The structures themselves are substantial, measuring approximately 6 feet in length and 3 feet in width, offering sufficient space and separation for nesting pairs.
Preliminary signs of success were observed this year, with a small number of swallows choosing to nest in the new structures. We are optimistic that, with continued availability and visibility, a greater number will return to nest in these designated locations during the upcoming breeding season.
To support this transition, several modifications were made to the main barn to discourage nesting inside the building. The previously open upper sections along both sides of the barn were sealed using hardware cloth, and the main “garage-style” entrance was replaced with a set of swinging doors that can be easily closed. Next season, we plan to identify a suitable material that will allow access for sanctuary animals while effectively excluding barn swallows from entering the barn.
Biologist Heidi van Vliet was consulted on the placement of the nesting structures and confirmed that the selected locations are appropriate. Two of the nesting houses are positioned adjacent to the barn, enabling integration of the relocation project into our public summer education tours. The third house was strategically placed near the pond, where swallows have easy access to natural nesting materials such as mud.
Over the winter months, all swallow nests remaining in the barn will be removed. In addition, any nesting sites in the new structures that were not equipped with cups will be retrofitted using the salvaged nests. This will help increase site fidelity and encourage returning swallows to occupy the new houses.
We are deeply grateful for the support of The Rix Family Foundation, which has made this important conservation initiative possible. We remain committed to monitoring the project’s outcomes and to promoting swallow conservation through both habitat creation and community education.