Barn Swallow Nest Cam

A Historic Barn Near Greensburg

The Schwarz Farm, a 96-acre property conserved by the Westmoreland Land Trust in Hempfield Township, centers on an historic barn whose open rafters have sheltered generations of nesting swallows. The property is envisioned as the future Meadowlark Nature and Art Park, blending habitat restoration with public access.

Inside the Nest

This infrared camera holds a fixed, close-up view of a barn swallow nest built from mud pellets and dried grass cemented to a wooden beam. Viewers can watch the pair take turns incubating their eggs and, later, stuffing insects into the gaping mouths of the nestlings crowded along the rim.

A Migratory Songbird Under Pressure

Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) winter in Central and South America before returning to Pennsylvania farms each spring, favoring man-made structures like barns now that open farmland and traditional outbuildings are disappearing from the landscape.

A Conservation and Education Tool

The stream is hosted by PixCams, Inc. on behalf of the Westmoreland Land Trust, giving students, birders, and the public a real-time window into the full nesting cycle without disturbing the birds themselves.