New Tern Nesting Pontoons on Dublin Port Greenway and Great South Wall
27 May 2026
BirdWatch Ireland and Port continue long-term efforts to protect migratory seabirds and enhance biodiversity in Dublin Bay
Two new tern nesting pontoons have been installed at the Dublin Port Greenway and Great South Wall, in advance of the 2026 breeding season. Arctic and Common Terns return to Dublin Port each year, with hundreds of pairs nesting on purpose-built pontoons and in other dedicated nesting areas within the port.
Each summer, these migratory seabirds return to Dublin Bay to breed. Since 2013, Dublin Port has supported the Dublin Bay Birds Project (BirdWatch Ireland) by providing and maintaining purpose-built nesting structures, as part of its commitment to protecting and enhancing biodiversity within the UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere.
The previous nesting pontoons had reached the end of their service life and were due for replacement this year. The pontoon components arrived at Dublin Port in late April. Final preparation work was carried out in the port to ensure the pontoons were ready for the breeding season.
The pontoons are located near two of Dublin Port’s main public amenities – the 230-year-old Great South Wall and the Dublin Port Greenway.
Dublin Port Engineer Eamon McElroy led the project to deploy the pontoons and noted:
“Each May we welcome Arctic and Common terns back to Dublin Bay and provide purpose-built nesting environments for them. These structures replicate shingle and gravel habitats, the birds’ natural breeding environment, which is now under pressure from climate change and human disturbance in many places around our coastline.
“Arctic Terns undertake one of the longest migrations of any bird, travelling from their northern breeding grounds to the Southern Ocean. Through long-term monitoring, we also know that some birds return to the same nesting areas in Dublin Port over many years.”
Dublin Bay Birds Project Manager Helen Boland commented:
“Dublin Port provides a safe and well-maintained breeding site for these terns, which are among the world’s most iconic migratory seabirds. The birds’ annual movements between breeding grounds and Antarctic feeding areas are an extraordinary feat for such a small species.
“We are delighted to see these new pontoons in place, just in time for the 2026 breeding season.”
One pontoon is situated in the Tolka Estuary and can be viewed from the Dublin Port Greenway – a 2.2km dedicated cycle and pedestrian route along the northern perimeter of the port, overlooking the UNESCO Biosphere and offering new vistas into the working Port. The Greenway opened in September 2024 and since then has seen some 300,000 visitors.
The second tern nesting ponton is located in the River Liffey, approximately 100 metres from the Half Moon Swimming Club on the Great South Wall. The two pontoon structures are complemented by two permanent gravel nesting areas within the port estate.
When viewing these birds from either of these locations, it is important to remember that they have travelled thousands of kilometres to get here and that birdwatchers must take great care not to disturb them when they are on or near their breeding sites.
Dublin Port has supported BirdWatch Ireland’s Dublin Bay Birds Project for more than a decade.
Separate to its work with BirdWatch Ireland, Dublin Port’s other biodiversity initiatives include the installation of nesting boxes for black guillemots, habitat creation as part of the Dublin Port Greenway, and the installation of eco-engineering structures designed to enhance marine biodiversity in the River Liffey.
Find out more about Dublin Port public amenities and tours at: https://www.dublinport.ie/explore/