Protected barn swallow habitat felled by chainsaw near Tobermory

Provincial police are looking for a suspect who used a chainsaw to fell three protected habitats used toshelter barn swallows, a species of bird that is considered threatened in Ontario.

The OPP said someone cut down the protected habitats sometime between 8 p.m. on Thursday March 5 and 8 a.m. on Friday March 6 along Highway 6 near Clarke's Corners, about a half hour drive from Tobermory.

Police said the damage is estimatedat $30,000.

Barn swallows are considered a threatened species in Ontario and a 2014 report from the province says the species has declined nearly 66 per cent since 1970.

While there is no single factor for the bird's long-term decline, the report notes a number of possible factors, including loss of habitat, insecticides or pollutants and climate change.

It's estimated there are currently 350,000 barn swallows in the province, 90 per cent of which are spread throughout southern Ontario.

Anyone with information about the destruction of barn swallow habitat in the area is asked to call the OPP at 1-800-310-1122 or Crimestoppers.