Campus Greening and Wildlife
CUHK's luxuriant campus boasts the highest greening ratio of any local university. The campus is home to over 200 plant species, over a third of all tree species found in Hong Kong. Over 60% of the campus is covered in vegetation. The campus is also home to a wide variety of fauna. Please visit the Trees and Birds at CUHK webpage to explore the plant species and avifauna on CUHK campus.
The House Swift is the most well-known bird on campus. Over 200 swifts have built their nests under the concrete eaves of the University Library, and it is now home to the largest swift colony in Hong Kong.
When planning the Library Extension, the University commissioned an avian specialist to conduct a 17-month study and monitor the health and population of the swift colony nesting there on a monthly basis. Mitigation measures were implemented to protect the swifts during construction. A review after the completion of the Library Extension project concluded that the House Swift Preservation effort had been a great success.
More information:
Library Extension Project – Swift Conservation
Further details of the mitigation measures taken to conserve the swift colony can be found below:
Conservation Measures
Installation of Nest Boxes
House swift colony at the University Library |
Swift nests under the University Library’s eaves |
Swift nest built using artificial nest box as base |
