Barn swallows face breeding habitat loss as traditional farm buildings are modernized, requiring sympathetic management for welfare and conservation.
Barn swallows displaced from nesting sites by building conversion cannot find alternative nest sites, causing breeding failure. Nest removal when occupied is illegal and causes direct welfare harm through egg and chick loss. Declining farmyard insect availability from pesticide use reduces chick survival. Sympathetic building management and insect-rich habitats maintain swallow welfare and population viability.