By Isatou Fofana
West Africa Birds Study Association (WABSA) currently hosted an eight-member team from “ Flight of the Osprey Expedition team’’ from the United Kingdom (UK) led by the UN Ambassador for Migratory Species, Madam Sacha Dench.
Speaking to Gambia Daily at their residence in Tanji last week, Madam Sacha Dench said they travelled overland from the UK, from 1st August to 5th November 2022. “Before reaching The Gambia, we travelled through the following countries: France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal,” she informed.
She said the purpose of their expedition was to find out all the threats to Osprey Bird Migration, particularly the young birds who migrated from the UK to other parts of the World.
She reported that 70% of Osprey Birds who migrate from the UK do not survive due to many factors.
She informed that there were four tagged Osprey Birds who migrated from the UK to other parts of the world out of which one adult is in Guinea and another one is in Spain and two others died.
According to Madam Dench, most of the migrated birds don’t stay long in other countries, unlike the Gambia where they stay long during the winter season.
“During our stay in The Gambia, we visited the following places: Tambi Wetland complex in Banjul, mangrove Bijol Island in Tanji, Kotu Creek, Ndangkan Community in Banjul, WABSA mangrove planting site in Tambi, Tanji Fish Landing site, BolongFenyo in Gunjur, Kotu Old Cycle Track, Gambia Birds Watchers Association main office in Kotu and Tendaba Camp in Kwinella,” she said.
Executive Director, WABSA, Lamin Jobarteh commended UN Ambassador for Migratory Species and the team for the visit, adding that WABSA being the Birdlife International partner NGO in The Gambia is making lots of progress on its Atlantic flyway.
“Flight of the Osprey Expedition team from UK is here to see for themselves some natures that are connected to conservation and most especially to forge a partnership with WABSA,’’ he said.
Mr. Jobarteh informed that the expedition at the end will be put in a documentary form for educational purposes and thus be shared among educational institutions like UTG.
