With the start of the breeding season, Cliff Swallows are nesting across Santa Barbara. Local conservation groups are reminding the public that these birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918. The Santa Barbara Audubon Society is working closely with state wildlife officials to help preserve their nesting habitats by preventing the destruction or removal of active nests.
Highlights
- The Santa Barbara Audubon Society is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to save the Cliff Swallow nesting sites in Santa Barbara.
- The destruction or disturbance of the habitats of Cliff Swallows is prohibited under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918.
- The nesting season runs from February 15 to September 1.
Department of Fish and Wildlife States Nesting Season to Last from February 15th Through September 1st
The disturbance or destruction of the nests of migratory birds during nesting season is rendered illegal under the MBTA – a federal law enforced to help conserve migratory birds. Cliff Swallows, a migratory social songbird species, migrate from South America, where they spend their winters, and migrate to North America for breeding season.
The Cliff Swallow or the Petrochelidon pyrrhonota builds a gourd-shaped mud nest on walls and under eaves. Their nests, which are communal habitats, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 since these birds are migratory in nature and vulnerable to habitat disruption.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the nesting season for Cliff Swallow from February 15 through September 1. During this time, residents of Santa Barbara are prohibited from disturbing, cleaning, blocking, and removing nests, even if birds are not visibly present.
The federal enforcement of the MBTA on the nests of Cliff Swallows helps meet ecological goals for conserving migratory bird nesting. These birds are vital in preserving biodiversity and disrupting their breeding cycle can significantly impact the local ecosystem. For more information on the Cliff Swallow and its nesting season, visit the Santa Barbara Audubon Society’s website.
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Thanks on behalf of the swallows for putting this info up about the importance of their nests and our ecosystem.
Yet . . . The remnants of one pier at Ellwood/Haskell’s Beach was removed and there went the nesting for 100s of Swallows —- after decades of the birds utilizing the underside of the pier to construct their mud nests and raise their young. Did anyone ever hear a word of protest over that mass destruction of protected “habitat”?
That pier was a good spot for them but they will simply find other places. The cliffs from Goleta Beach all the way to Hendry’s Beach have hundreds of them.