Thank you for making BECO’s first fundraising campaign a great success! Your contributions helped us reach our goal of raising $3,000 to support our Barn Swallow and Prairie Warbler projects. This campaign is now completed.

About BECO:
Bird Ecology and Conservation Ontario is a small non-profit and charitable organization working to answer ecological questions and improve conservation efforts for songbirds in Ontario. Your support makes our work possible. Please visit our website at www.beco-birds.org to find out more about how you can support BECO.

Barn Swallows and Social Cues:
Barn Swallows are a species at risk in Ontario. Loss of nesting habitat, such as old barns, is one of the threats potentially contributing to the population decline. We tested if social cues could be used to attract Barn Swallows to new nesting structures built on properties where Barn Swallow nesting habitat had been lost. By installing social cues, Barn Swallow vocalizations and decoys, and monitoring how the birds responded to these cues, we acquired new information about the efficacy of Barn Swallow conservation efforts.

The Prairie Warbler Project:
The Prairie Warbler is a rare songbird in Canada, found only in Ontario. Many are concerned that the population could be declining, but there is a lack of information about the number of birds in Ontario and the extent of their distribution. We worked with others to find out more about where this species breeds and how many of these rare birds are in the province.

Thank you for your support!