When old farms come down and new neighbourhoods pop up, there are environmental costs that many people don't think about.
But Greensville’s Glenn Meldrum does, especially when it comes at-risk species, like barn swallows.
“Barns and sheds are being demolished because they're dilapidated or they're making way for highways or urban expansion, housing. They have less and less places to nest,” he said.
Barn swallows nest in Flamborough’s barns and sheds on their way south to Central and South America. These little migratory birds were classified as a species at risk in 2012 by the province. In an update on barn swallow populations in 2021, a report said there are “substantial ongoing declines" in Ontario populations.
That’s why Meldrum decided to build the nesting shed at Johnson Tew Park, and after two years of fundraising, applying for grants, connecting with local non-profits like the Hamilton Naturalist Club, and working with the City of Hamilton and volunteer tradesmen, the shed is up.
With permitting costs, the fee for an engineer to oversee the structure design, lawyers' fees and other costs associated with the project, Meldrum had the daunting task of raising almost $25,000 for the project.
“People have told me it's a waste of time and money, but I think conservation is always worth the effort, no matter how much it costs,” he said.
Barn swallow habitat a passion project for local environmentalist
The shed was constructed by volunteer pre-apprentices from LiUna’s training centre in Grimsby. Meldrum said he raised around $10,000 for materials and the pre-apprentices offered their labour for free.
The shed is made primarily of wood, the material barn swallows prefer over vinyl or aluminum, which are used to build most modern barns. Inside the structure are little wooden platforms for the barn swallows to nest on. The shed will also have cones around its four legs to stop predators from climbing inside.
A lifelong Greensville resident, Meldrum said he has seen the natural landscape in his community change. With more housing developments in the area, he says, there are more lawns and fewer insects for animals to eat. The shed is on the far side of Johnson Tew Park, surrounded by long grass that will hopefully provide food for its new residents.
Meldrum also volunteers with Dundas Turtle Watch, protecting turtle nesting sites in the area, but the barn swallow nesting shed has been his biggest project.
“This is all volunteer,” he said. “I've spent hundreds of hours at this.”
Barn swallows often return to their nests from previous years, according to a report by the province.
Meldrum said the shed may have gone up too late in the year to have swallows nest in the spring. He had hoped they could come check out the structure last fall, on their trip south, but the structure was put up in December.
“There’s a good possibility I won't get any this year, but I'm hoping to at least get one pair,” he said.
