August 28, 2007 readers of the Seattle Times and P-I, see Viewpoint 9
April 12, 2007 readers of the Seattle Times and PI:
Four Seasons Grenada Dove Extinction
for more information on this crime against the creation by the Four Seasons Corporation
It’s not a Green Building
if it’s not swallow-friendly!
I’m happy to see Green Building practices become the norm, as they should. But sometimes when people conceptualize “greeness”-- whether it involves buildings. recycling, working for a “clean” environment, sustainability, reducing pollution, or whatever--they forget about the critters.
The nesting strategy of some birds involves going towards humans and their buildings in an effort to avoid predators. Of these (Barn Owl, Wrens, Phoebees, Robins, House Finches, etc) perhaps the most committed are Swallows and Martins. For centuries Barn Swallows have solved their Crow problem by nesting near humans on their buildings, using a loud alarm call to draw out human assistance in nest-defense. But now that the human has morphed from a friendly-farmer-with-a-barn to a home-or-business-owner-with-a-powerhose, an age-old friendship is under threat of unraveling.
To be really green, building owners should never, EVER evict Barn Swallows, (or Cliff Swallows), should put out fresh mud for them especially in a dry spring, put up small nest platforms under eaves, and should also help their cousins the Violet Green Swallows by putting up state-of-the-art nest boxes (and gourds for Purple Martins if the building is near water).
- Ed Newbold—Wildlife Artist