bird

1. Effects of Microclimate on Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in Digos City
Rodel Sienes1
, Drahcir Ubat, Sante, Gle Liezl3,
Jelord Rosalita4,
Ana Mellorida5
Davao del Sur State College, Brgy. Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines
rodelsienes03@gmail.com
Abstract
Avian species like barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) offer a variety of ecosystem benefits. It is
vital to keep nature balanced but due to anthropogenic activities, their habitat greatly changed. The
study was conducted in Barangay Ruparan and Zone 2 of Digos City to assess the distribution of
an abundance of barn swallows such as agricultural area and residential area. Moreover, the
temperature was also measured and correlated to the microclimate of the area. Based on the results,
a total of 18 barn swallows were captured, 11 are from Barangay Ruparan, an agricultural area
while 7 are from Zone 2, a residential area. The agricultural area has the most evident barn
swallows compared to the residential area has the least evident. In terms of microclimate, barn
swallows are lesser in a low temperature compared to a high temperature. Thus, the microclimate
of the area affects the abundance of barn swallows.
KEYWORDS: Environmental studies, barn swallow, abundance, microclimate, Digos City
INTRODUCTION
Avifauna habitats, in particular,
have been altered due to urbanization, rapid
population expansion, and rampant
conversion of natural habitats into
residential and even agricultural uses.
Forest destruction due to anthropogenic
activities leads to threatened diversity of
birds. For instance, habitat deprivation due
to mining, deforestation, and climate
change affects native species in
Madagascar. Similar to other countries,
Australia lost 5–10% of its biodiversity due
to extensive deforestation to make room for
agricultural farms (Smith, 2023). As
suggested in the study of Tian et al. (2022),
they recommend paying closer attention to
the Barn Swallow's reproductive
performance and population trends in the
tropics in light of global warming. In the
Philippines, a tropical country’s rampant
migratory bird named Barn Swallows
(Hirundo rustica) is now evident. Yet,
according to (International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources, 2015) it is considered one of the
most diminutive concerning species in the
world. One of today's most pressing
challenges is preserving the world's species
diversity. The Philippines have
implemented various conservation and
preservation practices with the help of local
government and concerned citizens.
Barn swallows are known to depart
the Philippines in the spring (March/April)
to nest before returning in the fall
(September/November) to spend the
winter, according to Dr. Juan Carlos
Gonzales. He claims that it appears as
though barn swallows are now favoring
urban roosts because there have been
numerous reports of them doing so in
Quezon City, Muntinlupa City, and
Zamboanga City. Barn swallows are
known to breed in northern latitudes. He
suggests that urban roosting benefits barn
swallows. Numerous variables could be at
play, but in his opinion, swallows staying in
populated areas at night reduce their danger
of being eaten by larger birds, snakes,
lizards, and other predators. The increased
humidity and decreased airflow inside the
city may also be favorable circumstances.
But one thing they found is that streetlights
and other prominently lighted signs don't

2. seem to bother the birds at all. According to
him, since birds are sensitive to light, they
should not have been roosting on the busy
thoroughfare (Cruz, 2014).
In the study Banzon et al. (2022),
conducted in Davao City between October
and December 2019, fifteen urban green
places where barn swallows were also
identified together with other birds,
documented the diversity of bird species.
However, considering the study's findings,
the researchers suggest that more research
be done to confirm the consequences of
anthropogenic activities.
In Digos City, agriculture is a major
component of the city’s economy. In fact,
birds provide an economic benefit in many
cases such as pest control agents,
pollinators, etc. The barn swallow is
attracted to many forms of insects because
they are insectivorous. This might be the
reason why they exist dominantly in the
city. Hence, this study aimed to assess the
abundance (agricultural and residential)
temperature, and habitat factors affected by
a microclimate
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Research Setting
The study was conducted in two selected
barangays within Digos City. The sampling
area namely barangay Ruparan
(agricultural area and barangay Zone 2 (
residential area).
The Barangay Ruparan is an agricultural
area where it is also planted with banana,
mango, rice grain, corn and many others.
On the other hand, the Barangay Zone 2 is
a residential area located in Rizal Avenue
with coordinates of.
Bird Sampling and Analysis
Mist netting was used to capture the barn
swallow from March to May in selected
two barangay’s in Digos City. The captured
bird are all tag before it was released.
Moreover, a cage was used to keep the barn
swallows for recording purposes. A total of
18 barn swallows were captured. 11 barn
swallows came from Barangay Ruparan, an
agricultural area while 7 are from Barangay
Zone 2 which is a residential area. There are
some factors as to why barn swallows are
not prevalent in the area where they are
usually dominant due to climate change and
food availability.
RESULTS
Barn Swallow Abundance
The study was conducted from March to
May in two areas: Ruparan and Zone 2 of
Digos City, Davao del Sur. Barn Swallows
were most abundant with 5 counted in
Ruparan during March and most abundant
in Zone 2 with 4 counted during the month
of April. Meanwhile, Barn swallows were
the least abundant in Ruparan with only 2
counted during April and in Zone 2 with
only 1 counted during March. In the
duration of the study, Ruparan notably has
more counted barn swallows from March
to May compared to the Zone 2 area.

3. Micro-Climactic Condition
The table shows that there is a strong
correlation between temperature and barn
swallows at 0.829. Moreover, it shows that
barn swallows are preferred or dominantly
seen in areas where the temperature is high.
However, in an area like a residential barn
swallows are quite not rampant or visible.
DISCUSSIONS
Abundance
The findings of this study indicate that
barn swallows are more common in fields
than in residential ones. Among the sample
locations, Barangay Ruparan, an
agricultural area, had the highest
concentration of Barn Swallows. This is
due to the area's accessibility of a large
variety of insect classes, the primary food
of this species. Although there were fewer
Barn Swallows in Zone 2, a residential area,
these birds remained because of the huge
flies and flying ants that are also visible that
are a part of this bird’s diet.
Microclimate
The temperature is the microclimatic
factor that the study considered. Compared
to the residential sector, the agricultural
region exhibits greater temperatures. Data
demonstrates a significant relationship
between temperature and the quantity of
barn swallows seen in agricultural areas.
This further clarifies why this type of bird
is more prevalent outside of populated
areas.
However, fewer Barn Swallows were
observed during the sample period from
March to May. This is due to the area's
severe temperatures, which have a
significant impact on migrant birds. Hot and
dry summers alter the vegetation, affecting
their habitat, and a lack of insects causes
them to lose weight. Furthermore,
competition for breeding sites becomes
intense during this season, contributing to
high chick mortality (Adams, 2007).
The Earth's climate has a substantial
impact on the decline of bird species
populations in a region as caused by sudden
migration towards more suitable habitats.
Failure to adapt, on the other hand, will
jeopardize this species and may possibly lead
to extinction.
Adams, A. (n.d.). Climate change and
migratory birds.
https://www.worldmigratorybirdda
y.org/2007/index44cb.html
Ranjan, B. G., & Prasad, P. B. (2022).
ALLIANCE BETWEEN BARN
SWALLOW HIRUNDO RUSTICA
LINNAEUS, 1758 AND INDIAN
MUSTARD BRASSICA JUNCEA (L.)
CZERNAJEW, 1859: A NEW
INTUITION IN BIRD-PLANT
ECOLOGICAL NETWORKS. Maǧallaẗ
Matḥaf Al-tārīẖ Al-ṭabī’ī, 17(1), 1–13.
https://doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2022.17.
1.0001 (Ranjan & Prasad, 2022)
CONCLUSION
As a result, barangay Ruparan, an
agricultural area, has a greater number of barn
swallow species as observed during the ocular
inspection from March to May 2023 as
compared to the residential area (Zone 2, Rizal
Avenue). This species is common in the Digos
City particularly barangay Ruparan during

4. these months, since this area is a farming
community and also has an accessibility of a
large variety of insect classes, the primary food
of this species. Due to extreme heat brought on
by the summer season, residential areas (Zone
2) report the greatest temperatures affecting
birds’ presence and scarcity of sources unlike in
barangay Ruparan with a lesser temperature
suitable for these birds to feed, rest, and breed.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The researchers would like to extend their
deepest gratitude to our professors,
especially to Sir Jayson R. Pucot,
colleagues and comrades who had
contributed and paved the way in
completing our endeavor, and most
especially to our Almighty God who gives
us unusual strength and guidance.
REFERENCES
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