Blue Sky Times: Totem Poles, Redheads and a Baby Zebra

As the news editors, we hear constant criticism that the news section isn’t fun to read because there’s “never any good news.” We firmly believe these stories are important for our readers to see, but there are still wonderful things happening all around us. 

Our goal for this weekly column is to bring you some positive news from Chicago and around the world. There are good things happening all around us — let’s look into a few. 

Northern bald ibis

Austrian biologist Johannes Fritz, who is helping the northern bald ibis bird migrate over the Appalachian Mountains so they can avoid extinction. Their migration patterns have shifted due to climate change and many of the birds have died as a result, The New York Times reported Aug. 18.

Fritz helped the birds create a new route by leading them in a small aircraft himself. 

Redhead Days Festival 

Thousands of redheads gathered for the annual Redhead Days Festival in the Netherlands, according to The Washington Post. The festival emphasizes that only 1 to 2% of all people with European ancestry have red hair, making it a unique feature to celebrate. 

The festival included everything from photo booths and dances to information sessions on skin cancer, a disease common among members of the community due to their pale skin. The festival has taken place every year since 2005 and attracts attendees from all over the world.

Museum free days

In Chicago, museum free days have returned for all Illinois residents starting this fall, Block Club Chicago reported. All eligible free days can be found under the museums’ websites. All patrons need to do is show proof of residency. 

Museums included in this deal are Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Art Institute, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Museum of Modern Art and Dusable Black History Museum and Education Center. 

Totem pole return

A delegation from the Nisga’a Nation performed a spiritual ceremony on a century-old totem pole in the National Museum of Scotland Aug. 28 in preparation for its 4,000 mile return journey to Canada, The New York Times reported. 

The 36-foot pole was initially crafted in the 19th century to honor a fallen Nisga’a warrior next in line to be chief but was later stolen by a Canadian anthropologist to be sold to the Scottish museum. The ceremony was the culmination of decades of effort by the Nisga’a to bring what they see as an imprisoned family member home.

Lincoln Park Zoo zebra

The Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed a new baby Zebra born Aug. 28 who has yet to be named, according to Block Club Chicago. The new foal has yet to be named but is the fifth child of female zebra Adia and her third foal with male zebra Webster. Chicagoans can visit the new addition of the zoo family in the Camel and Zebra section located at 2001 N. Clark St.

Have a wonderful week Ramblers and remember, as The Beatles once sang in “Dear Prudence, “The sun is up, the sky is blue / it’s beautiful, and so are you.” 

Featured image by Holden Green / The Loyola Phoenix