Effect of tourism on breeding swallows

This study was conducted in May and June 2025 in Xijiang Miao and Zhaoxing Dong Villages (25°19ʹ–27°31ʹ N, 107°17ʹ–109°35ʹ E) as the areas of tourist attractions (both rated as the National 4A-level Tourist Attractions). The surrounding villages and residential areas were considered non-tourist attractions in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in southeastern Guizhou Province, China (Figure 1).Xijiang Miao Village (Figure 2) is situated in Xijiang Town, Leishan County, Guizhou Province. It is a famous historical and cultural town in China. The scenic area covers an area of 5.5 km2, and the village has ca. 1,400 households and 6,000 residents. The Miao people account for 99.5% of the population, making it the largest Miao village in China and even the world. Xijiang Miao Village is under the jurisdiction of Leishan County, which has a total area of 1,218.5 km2, with jurisdiction over 9 towns and 323 natural villages (Yang and Liang 2025).Zhaoxing Dong Village (Figure 3) is situated in the southeastern part of Liping County, Guizhou Province. As one of the national key scenic spots, the core area currently covers 18 km2, with ca. 1,200 households and 5,200 residents, making it one of the largest Dong villages in China. Zhaoxing Scenic Area is under the jurisdiction of Liping County, which has a total area of 4,441 km2 and jurisdiction of over 21 towns and 2 ethnic townships (Yang and Liang 2025).In this study, two typical scenic tourist areas in Guizhou, southwest China, namely Xijiang Miao Village and Zhaoxing Dong Village, were selected as study sites to address this research gap. Villages without tourism development in the surrounding area served as control sites for comparing the nest-site distribution and breeding state of two synanthropic bird species, namely the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) and red-rumped swallow (Cecropis daurica). The total number of active breeding nests and nesting rate of the two swallow species in tourist areas were markedly lower than those in non-tourist areas. This indicated that tourism development may produce an inhibitory effect on nest-site selection and breeding of barn and red-rumped swallows. This study provides an empirical case for understanding the influence of tourism on nest-site selection and breeding activity of synanthropic birds. Furthermore, our study can serve as a scientific basis for guiding ecological management and bird conservation in scenic areas.