Barn swallows depend on access to traditional farm buildings for nesting and insect-rich habitats for foraging, both under pressure from modern agriculture.
Barn swallow welfare depends on nest site access and insect prey availability. Barn conversions eliminating access points destroy nest sites that pairs may have used for generations, requiring birds to find alternatives during the critical breeding window. Intensive agriculture reducing insect abundance forces swallows to forage over longer distances, increasing energy expenditure for chick provisioning. Individual pairs that lose established nest sites experience breeding failure with its associated welfare cost. Maintaining access points in farm buildings and managing habitat for insect production directly benefits swallow welfare.