Saving Swallows – a window exhibition at Saareke invites us to protect beloved summer birds

Saving Swallows exhibition at Saareke

One month ‘til summer if you see a skylark,
half a month if you see a finch,
just a little while if you see a wagtail,
not even a day if you see a swallow.

Saving Swallows is a window exhibition at community space Saareke in the centre of Mynämäki. The exhibition has been created by studentsfrom grades 5 and 8 of Lauri School in Mynämäki together with their teachers, Saari Residence community artist Pia Bartsch, and assistant Mika Pasanen. The exhibition opened as part The Finnish Nature Association’s (Luontoliitto) Luonto lainassa (Nature on Loan) week.

In workshops held for the exhibition, students learned about swallows and swifts nesting in Finland: the vulnerable barn swallow, the endangered house and sand martins, and the common swift.

The exhibition aims to draw attention to these beloved summer birds while reminding visitors of their threatened status. Swallow populations have declined sharply since the early 2000s, mainly due to changes in rural environments and the decline of insect populations. Fortunately, there is now plenty of information available on how swallows can be helped—both directly and indirectly. Saving swallows is urgent, even if the topic is not yet widely discussed.

The Saareke window features different swallow species as well as artificial nests built to support their breeding. Artificial nests are important because modern building surfaces are often too smooth, and swallows have difficulty finding suitable nesting materials. Artificial nests are also more durable and safer than natural nests: they are less likely to fall, and eggs and chicks are better protected. Natural nests may break, for example if the soil used lacks sufficient clay content.

It is also important to remember that swallows are protected species, and under Finnish nature conservation law, the destruction of their nests is prohibited.

Let’s save swallows together!

Saving Swallows is on view in the window of the Saareke community space:

Saareke

Keskuskatu 20

Mynämäki