2 Little Birds can lengthen opening the brand new nursing development of Acadea College
Two small birds have caused a delay in building a new nursing building at the University of Akadia and may eventually affect the opening of the convenience.
The University Club on Westwood Avenue at Wolfville, NS was expected to demolish the way for the new building in January, with the construction set starting last month.
But nature has thrown a wrench in works.
In the last summer, Birds Canada saw two chimney swifts entering one of the chimney of the university club.
Chimney Swifts are a species at risk, and the destruction of their habitat is prohibited without any permit.
The university made an application to the environment and climate change Canada for permit to destroy the chimney as part of the demolition, and after the 90-day review period, the ECC issued a permit.
The chimney was covered, and the building is now demolished in mid -June. The construction of the new nursing building is now set to start in September.
A spokesperson of the university says that delay means the inauguration of the new building, which is basically determined for 2026, may be delayed.
This province is investing $ 13.9 million to help create feature, which will include a dry laboratory, clinic teaching space and simulation rooms.
Acadia’s nursing program, which began with 21 students in September 2023, was 63 students in 2024–25 academic year, and expected another 63 to start this decline.
Swift uses other campus chimney
The chimney in the university club is not often on campus by Swifts.
The university hall also has an active chimney swift roast. As part of the ECC permit, that site should be monitored for three years.
Samuel genes, conservation and education technicians of Akadia will lead to monitoring and conservation efforts.
Spring monitoring will be between May 17 and June 2, and more monitoring will be done in summer and autumn.
Jean says that the crew will sit outside the chimney about an hour before sunset, will still be more calm, and try to count the number of birds flying in the chimney. Cameras will also be used to record birds flying in the chimney to complete the more accurate count by watching the video.
The highest number of Swifts recorded on the site was 810 in 2021.
“It is super dominant to see,” Jean says. “A few hours ago they go in, they gather and they do circles and circles and circles. And then at some point they begin to go into small groups. This is a good phenomenon for witnesses.”
The chimney swifts are unable to perch on flat surfaces, rather than require a vertical surface. They often roam in hollow trees, chimney, wells and barn.
Jean says that he is happy to help in monitoring birds in the campus.
“They are good to be around. They are good neighbors,” they say.
“An important thing to protect biodiversity as a whole. We share this land with so many other creatures and I think we are all worth it to be here. So it is important to find the ways that we can live together and share the place.”
