An errant bird who made an unlikely home of Dublin Airport has finally left Terminal 1 after almost a week.
A starling, affectionately named Charlie, caused quite a commotion in Dublin Airport as it remained in Terminal 1 for almost a week.
Rather than make a traditional nest in a tree – or, in the case of starlings, in the eaves of houses – Charlie decided to occupy the airport, where he survived on a diet that included one particularly Irish snack.
Finally, after close to a week in Terminal 1, Charlie made his escape from the airport to join his “friends in the wild”.
Starlings – native to Ireland and the UK
Long before it was a digital challenger bank, the starling was – and still is – a bird native to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Though these birds’ appetites for insect pests led to their introduction to several non-native regions, starlings can themselves prove pests to humans in domestic environments, as they often make nests in the eaves of residential roofs.
Beyond the obvious noise concerns this brings, starling droppings can contain harmful bacteria that can lead to diseases like salmonella, encephalitis, and meningitis.
Charlie – the Dublin Airport starling
But enough of the boring stuff. Rather than opt for the eaves of some poor homeowner’s house, one starling decided to make Dublin Airport’s Terminal 1 its home.
The airport took to Twitter to update customers on the bird’s well-being, noting that it survived its stint in the terminal on cucumbers and Hunky Dory crisps.
Dublin Airport also asked its followers to help name the errant bird. Despite suggestions from followers like Starlingus and Birdie Ahern, the starling was finally christened Charlie in honour of late Irish journalist Charlie Bird.
Charlie takes off – the starling finally leaves Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport had previously noted that “helping a small (and very speedy!) bird to get out of such a vast and busy building is no easy task”. This certainly proved the case as Charlie spent no fewer than five days in the airport terminal.
Despite difficulties, the airport assured that its team were “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”.
The team finally achieved its goal yesterday (23 April), and Charlie was rescued and set “on his way back to his friends in the wild”.
One last tweet called Charlie’s departure the “best take-off of the day”.
