World Migratory Bird Day - Swifts on Campus
Migratory Bird Day 2024 is 11 May, and to celebrate we met with Dr Brian Gormley to introduce you to the 'Swifts of Grangegorman' who have travelled to the campus to nest.
TU Dublin installed approximately 50 nest boxes tucked under the top edge gutters of buildings on the Grangegorman campus and at the neighbouring D7 ETNS. This initiative has been a success with a number of nests now occupied with swift pairs and their young. Swift nest boxes will also be included in the new Academic Hub and are in the brief for all new campus buildings.
UN International World Migratory Bird Day
UN International World Migratory Bird Day is a bi-annual global campaign that educates and promotes conservation action for migratory birds and their journeys, while raising awareness about the challenges facing avifauna species worldwide.
This year the campaign focuses on biodiversity loss and the alarming impact it is having on the relationship between migratory birds and insects. Insects are the top food source for migratory birds throughout their long migration journeys and to feed their fledglings, with bird often timing their migration to align with insect abundance.
Support the campaign
Together we can work to support bird and insect species, and create a biodiversity-rich environment on campus.
- Let areas of grass grow long
- Manage native hedgerows which provide habitat
- Plant pollinator friendly plants and trees.
- Don't use insecticides, fungicides or herbicides
- Create nesting habitats for pollinators, such as bug hotels, bird boxes and bat boxes
- Avoid high luminosity lighting - birds rely heavily on vision to detect insects and predators. Artificial night lighting also disrupts the migrating and breeding habits of many avifauna species as well as the development and growth of trees.
Shared Impact
This initiative supports TU Dublin's Strategic Intent to 2030 under the pillar of
- Planet (a powerhouse for living & breathing sustainability)
Supporting campaigns, such as World Migratory Bird Day aligns to many of the targets set out for United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Climate Action and SDG 15: Life on Land.
