Episode 3: Barn Swallow & House Martin
Whose cheerful chatter heralds spring in our towns and villages?
With the new ” Lend an ear to nature” campaign, the Mouvement Ecologique wants to draw attention to these often-threatened species and their habitats – and combine it with a guessing quiz on the noise of the animal in question.
A total of two short videos on a species of animal from our localities and landscapes will be published each month from the end of April until October.
Guess with us – which animal is making that sound? and win a Naturata voucher worth €50 per spot!
Did you recognize the swallows in the clip?
The song – or rather the twittering and chattering – belongs to the barn swallow. Shortly after, you hear the equally cheerful house martin.
These sounds mark the return of the swallows to our region – and with it, the arrival of spring. Both species spend the winter on the African continent and only return to breed in spring.
Their busy chatter was once a familiar sound in our villages, especially rural ones – but sadly, they have become less common.
Lifestyle & Needs
As the Luxembourgish name “Stallschmuewel” (stable swallow) suggests, the barn swallow builds its shallow cup-shaped nest from mud and plant material – preferably in stables.
Its cousin, the house martin – “Fënsterschmuewel” – prefers to build its nest on building facades or window ledges sheltered from the rain. Its nest is more spherical but made of the same materials.
Both species have adapted to humans over millennia, moving from natural cliff faces to the “concrete cliffs” of human settlements. Because of their differing nesting preferences, the barn swallow is more common in villages with stables, while the house martin can also thrive in larger towns and cities.
Threats to Swallows
Unfortunately, both species have become much rarer in our communities. They struggle to find suitable nesting sites and materials. There are fewer open stables, and modern architecture offers little nesting space. Asphalted roads reduce the number of puddles and mud patches needed for nest building. The drastic decline in insects – their main food source – is also a major factor.
Sadly, people often remove swallow nests because of the “mess” they create. But swallows were once considered lucky omens in many cultures – so having a nest on your home should be welcomed.
Another issue: both species spend the insect-scarce winter in Africa. On their long migratory routes, they now have to cross regions increasingly affected by climate change – posing many risks.
Distribution in Luxembourg
Populations of both species have declined significantly in recent decades, and their recovery looks uncertain.
A third species, the sand martin, is also found in Luxembourg – but has always been rare due to its specific habitat needs: sandy riverbanks and similar areas.
Want to help barn swallows and house martins?
Here’s what you can do:
- Contact a local nature conservation group or syndicate. There are specially designed nest boxes – with droppings boards to protect facades – that can help swallows settle in towns and villages.
- Create a wildlife-friendly garden: it doesn’t need to be perfectly manicured. A wildflower meadow, an untamed corner, a compost heap, or a pile of branches will attract insects – and thus insect-eating birds like swallows. A major plus would be a natural pond sealed with clay (not plastic) – it offers both insects and nest-building material.
More info available here: https://sicona.lu/dorfvoegel/