44 days to The Gambia: Update

In forty-four days I leave for The Gambia with the Onesight Global Clinic Team. I am going on behalf of my employer, Spitfire Sunglass Design (USA) Inc. who donated over 4,000 sunglasses to Onesight in 2011.


Today I joined the team conference call and learned more about what we will be doing in The Gambia. This clinic will be unlike the others in that it is a "sustainability" clinic. This clinic is about development, assisting local organizations (such as Sight Savers International) and local people to be able to continue the eye-clinic work without Onesight, from eye-exams and distributing eye-wear, to producing the eye-wear.

The exciting thing is that the work we will be doing will not only help create sustainability clinics in The Gambia, people from the surrounding countries will be participating in the training too and setting up their own clinics in places like Senegal, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.

www.spitfire-design.com

Establishing permanent local clinics is important because in this area currently there is only about one ophthalmologist per million people. Not only do they need eye-wear but sunglasses are also important as many people contract cataracts which can lead to blindness.

I'm so grateful to be able to attend the clinic, to Spitfire and Onesight, as I've always wanted to go to Africa to work, not as a tourist. But that doesn't mean I won't take advantage of the time I have there. I recently purchased a new camera and hope to share many pictures on my blog and on Facebook. I also will be birding as The Gambia has some of the best birding in the world. I bought "The Birds of The Gambia and Senegal" and have found two great places to bird, The Abuko Nature Reserve and Tanji Bird Reserve.

So keep a look out for some great pictures, hopefully video too, coming soon.

Alexandra Gnoske is a nature lover, writer, author and blogger.

Migrating Birds Need Your Help!

Indigo Bunting

Spring migration is in full swing. Billions of birds are moving across the continent. Millions fly through Chicagoland. Unfortunately many don't make their final destination as glass windows and city night lights cause disorientation and even death.

If you find an injured bird in Chicagoland call the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors right away at 773 988 1867.

Today as I sat at work typing on the computer, a Yellow-Bellied Sap Sucker (woodpecker) flew into my window. I called the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors when I found him (a male) clinging to the side of the brick building (in the alley). After a minute he flew away into an evergreen tree. Although woodpeckers have particularly hard heads he could have had a concussion.

Yellow-bellied Sap Sucker

One woodpecker may not seem like a big deal, but last year the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors recovered over 6,000 injured or dead birds. In the United States alone a billion migrating birds are killed in one year, mainly due to collisions with glass windows.

In 2004 Chicago became the first U.S. city to go dark during Spring and Fall migration. The Chicago Bird Collision Monitor organization has made tremendous efforts and accomplishments in keeping birds alive and safe during migration.

If you find an injured bird in Chicagoland please call them right away at 773 988 1867.

Whose Coming to Town? Thousands of Love Sick Birds

March 11th marked the beginning of early spring migration for the birds (it goes through April 20, followed by late spring in migration).

Yellow rumped warbler

That's my favorite time of year. It's also the best time to bird watch because the trees don't have leaves yet to block your view, and the birds are all excited, singing, looking for mates, chasing each other out of territories, and mating. Lots of activity which is helpful in finding them.

During this time millions of birds will fly through Chicagoland as we are lucky enough to be in the middle of a major migratory route. This includes over 300 different species. Some will stop and nest, filling the air with love-sick songs and causing great delight for many birders young and wise.

There are many places around Chicago where you can see birds - just look and listen, they are almost that easy to find. If you want to make a special trip, you can visit the Chicago Audubon Society for detailed information.

A few of my favorite places (in Chicago) are the spillway at Argyle and Troy by North Park University, The Magic Hedge at Montrose and the Lake, Jackson Park south of downtown, and the North Park Nature Center. You don't need anything to enjoy the birds, but you may want to take binoculars, a field guide book, and a notepad. My 6 year old son, who has birded with me in the past, identified many birds without the binoculars - sometimes much easier for kids to just use their eyes.

If you find any injured birds please contact the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors - as they are a birds best chance to survive an unhappy collision with a building.

Finally, when you are out birding, remember the birds are nesting and it is best to keep a respectful distance and you don't want to distress the birds and have them abandon their nests.

I will be taking many trips around the city this spring. Let me know if you want to come!

Alexandra Gnoske is a nature lover, writer, author and blogger.