A study on the impression evaluation and conservation awareness enhancement of wild swallows roosting in the Tamagawa River Basin

Abstract

This study reports the findings of a questionnaire survey conducted to examine potential conservation measures in response to the population decline of the barn swallow in Japan. The survey targeted individuals who had observed the species’ communal roosting behavior, and 109 valid responses were obtained. The results indicated that the barn swallow is widely recognized as a charismatic wild bird deserving protection. Furthermore, enhancing public recognition of its roosting behavior was suggested to increase conservation awareness and foster more active engagement among citizens. Respondents also proposed practical measures for nest protection, including tools to mitigate problems associated with droppings and support systems for households that accept swallow nests. In addition, various strategies were suggested for promoting roosting behavior, such as the development of environmental education programs and the effective use of media. However, because the study focused exclusively on observation-event participants, the sample may include individuals with inherently high interest in nature. Identifying non-observer groups and establishing a comparison cohort remain important tasks for future research.