The reproductive benefits of livestock farming in barn swallows Hirundo rustica: quality of nest site or foraging habitat?

Summary 1. In many parts of the world, changes in agricultural land‐use have led to significant declines of bird species, including aerial insectivores such as barn swallows. In particular, barn swallow populations have been declining across Europe where mixed and livestock farming have been replaced by arable farming. 2. A positive association between livestock farming and barn swallow reproductive success is well documented but the specific...