A timely reminder that habitat restoration doesn’t always require vast wilderness—it can begin with a DIY instruction kit in your suburban backyard.

By Luke Wilson, CEO, A Rocha Canada

August 12, 2025

On election day last fall, I stepped outside for a walk feeling the familiar weight of uncertainty that so many of us carry these days. But as I looked up, something shifted my perspective entirely. High above, Tree Swallows were dancing through the sky—swooping, diving, claiming their territory with fierce grace. At that moment, I felt inspired to do something hopeful beyond just casting my vote.

That inspiration led me to my workbench, where I carefully followed Cornell University’s specifications to build my very first backyard bird box. As CEO of A Rocha Canada, I’d championed our bird box programs and celebrated when supporters like you responded so generously to our winter appeal last Christmas. But I’d never built one for my own yard. It was time to practice what we preach.

What happened next proved something beautiful: habitat restoration doesn’t require vast wilderness—it can begin in a suburban backyard.

Within weeks, multiple Tree Swallow pairs arrived to investigate this new neighborhood addition. The competition was intense and fascinating to watch as they vied for the ideal nesting spot. One determined pair emerged victorious, but their real challenges were just beginning.

These resilient birds had to navigate life in our busy family space—staying calm as my six-year-old daughter and her friends raced through the yard, defending their nest from persistent House Sparrows and peeking their heads out the nest box hole when the weekly lawn mowing brought me within feet of their home. Through it all, they stayed, nested, and even fledged five young chicks.

The ripple effects have been as rewarding as the nesting success itself. My daughter now stops mid-stride during our walks to announce, “Dad, there’s a Red-winged Blackbird!” or “Look, Cardinals!” What started as one bird box has opened her eyes to the incredible diversity of species sharing our world. She’s discovering that creation care isn’t abstract—it’s as real as the birds outside our kitchen window. Not only that, we have far less mosquitoes in our yard because the Tree Swallows love to eat them!

This is why your support of A Rocha’s work matters so profoundly. When you respond to appeals for bird boxes and habitat restoration, you’re not just funding equipment—you’re inspiring action that spreads from our conservation sites into communities, backyards, and the next generation’s hearts.

In a world that often feels overwhelming, here’s a truth worth remembering: one of the most powerful antidotes to despair for the world is doing something tangible to care for creation. Whether it’s supporting A Rocha’s large-scale watershed restoration or building a single bird box in your yard, these small acts create profound impacts on both non-human creatures and ourselves.

The Tree Swallows that soar above my home are living proof that conservation hope is justified. With the right conditions and care, life finds a way to flourish—even in the most ordinary places.

Thank you for making this possible. Your partnership with A Rocha creates the inspiration and resources that turn election day reflections into nesting success stories, and backyard bird boxes into doorways of wonder for the next generation.

Sometimes the most powerful conservation happens not in remote wilderness, but right outside our kitchen windows—transforming both the creatures we welcome and the people who learn to see them.