Gambiaj.com – GLASLYN VALLEY, Wales) – The Glaslyn Ospreys project is hosting a special guest from The Gambia, Emmanuel Jatta, a research assistant and qualified bird ringer. Emmanuel is visiting as part of a four-month program in the UK, supported by renowned conservationist Dr. Tim Mackrill’s Osprey Leadership Foundation, which focuses on wildlife conservation in Africa.
Emmanuel, who has been involved with the Kartong Bird Observatory since 2010, is recognized for his expertise in bird ringing and his skill in safely extracting birds from fishing nets, a common threat for migratory birds in Africa. His visit to the UK includes a week with the Glaslyn team, a highlight of his conservation tour.
During his stay, Emmanuel will be active at the Pont Croesor Visitor Centre, engaging with visitors and volunteers. His schedule also includes visits to other Welsh osprey projects, Bardsey Island, and local attractions. This timing is particularly significant as it aligns with the scheduled ringing of this year’s osprey chicks in the Glaslyn Valley, an event where Emmanuel will lend his expertise.
Last year, the Glaslyn Ospreys project marked the legacy of Mrs. G, one of the UK’s most successful breeding female ospreys, by donating £2,500 to the Osprey Leadership Foundation. The foundation works to promote wildlife conservation among children and young people in The Gambia, a wintering ground for UK ospreys. Unfortunately, Mrs. G did not return from her migration in 2023.
Gwenan Williams, Treasurer and volunteer at Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife, who organized Emmanuel’s visit, expressed her excitement: “We are delighted to welcome Emmanuel to the Glaslyn Valley and have a full and interesting program arranged for him during his stay, thanks to the support of our volunteers and friends.
“We hope the visit will strengthen our links with important osprey conservation in Africa, and how marvelous would it be if, back in Africa, Emmanuel sees one of the birds he has ringed in the UK?”
Emmanuel’s UK visit also includes time spent on Skokholm Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast, working on birding projects in Suffolk and Scotland, and an upcoming visit to the Isle of Wight to collaborate with Dr. Mackrill on the White-Tailed Eagle translocation project.
His presence at Glaslyn underscores the vital international connections in wildlife conservation, showcasing how collaborative efforts can span continents to protect and preserve migratory bird species.
