Habitat improvement such as invasive plant species removal, tree planting, and maintenance of dam available in the garden has enhanced bird species richness. As a result, SUA Botanical Garden has now become a potential stopover for migratory birds which seem to increase in number in recent years.

Despite the efforts done by the College in nourishing the Botanical Garden to enhance the abundance of birds and other taxa, the migratory birds are facing a modern threat, “light pollution”. 

Light pollution can cause birds to change their migration patterns, foraging behaviours, and vocal communication, resulting in disorientation and collisions.

On Saturday, 14 May 2022 under the theme “Dim the Lights for Birds at Night” people around the world celebrated World Migratory Bird Day, an awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats with the aim of drawing attention to the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. 

A key goal of World Migratory Bird Day 2022 is to raise awareness of the issue of light pollution and its negative impacts on migratory birds. 

At the Sokoine University of Agriculture, an awareness campaign was conducted by the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism staff, and students at the SUA Botanical Garden.

~Let’s lend migratory birds a voice and switch off light pollution together