Dublin Airport officials have said they are working with wildlife experts to help a bird thought to have been living in a terminal for up to 40 days to get safely out of the building.
The bird, believed to be a starling, has been spotted in the top floor of Terminal 1, seemingly unable to get out of the main doors to the building two levels below.
It was reported on Thursday that an animal campaigner noticed the bird flying around inside the terminal last week, looking for scraps of food.
Caoimhe Laird Phelan posted footage of the bird online, and said she had learned it had been seen inside the building for up to 40 days. She said the starling repeatedly flies up to the windows on the terminal roof “in a panic” in a bid to escape.
On Thursday, a Dublin Airport spokesperson said they were working to help the bird finally escape the terminal.
“We note the concern about the bird currently living in Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport,” they said in a social media post.
We note the concern about the bird currently living in Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport.🐦⬛
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 18, 2024
Helping a small (and very speedy!) bird to get out of such a vast and busy building is no easy task. But the airport team is on the case and - in consultation with wildlife and bird experts -… pic.twitter.com/3DySPdcEWm
“Helping a small (and very speedy!) bird to get out of such a vast and busy building is no easy task. But the airport team is on the case and - in consultation with wildlife and bird experts - a process is underway which will get the bird safely on its way very soon.”
They added: “In the meantime, the public can be fully assured that the bird is getting plenty to eat and drink and is healthy. The safe return of the bird to the wild is a top priority and we thank the public for leaving its rescue to the professionals. Stay tuned for further updates!”