When an injured bird needed urgent help, a local resident was called upon to assist in a dire situation that quickly evolved into a powerful display of community collaboration.
This collective effort not only saved the bird’s life but also profoundly impacted the resident, restoring his faith for a better tomorrow.
Riël Tredoux recalls immediately putting shoulder to the wheel after being alerted to the injured Black Sparrowhawk spotted in the Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary in Somerset West by fellow resident Wayne Ellis last Wednesday (9 July).
“I’m an acquaintance of Wayne, and I’m pretty sure he has me down as ‘Birdman’ in his phone. That’s because Hernus, my neighbour, and I are constantly out in the reserve, cameras in hand, capturing birds,” he says.
“So when Wayne stumbled upon the injured hawk, he first rang Charles Brits, who unfortunately couldn’t assist. Charles, being a fellow Somerset West Bird Club member, knew I’m a regular at Dick Dent – it’s barely a five-minute walk from my house – so he redirected the call to me for assistance.
“So I met Wayne at his home, and he led me to the injured bird. It was an adult Black Sparrowhawk, sitting with a clearly injured wing – likely the Dick Dent resident I’d photographed before. I immediately started phoning around, pulling numbers from my contacts until I was referred to Kyle Girodo of the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) Helderberg.”
According to Tredoux, Girodo immediately responded, arriving at the scene, equipped for the mission at hand, within 20 minutes.
“Kyle arrived with a ‘vangnet’, a handheld net designed for safe capture. However, the terrain, littered with dead Port Jackson trees, became our first obstacle; the bird continually dodged under branches, making a net throw impossible,” Tredoux says.
“As it moved from trees to the ground, seeking cover, we had to adapt: I became the chaser, flushing the bird towards Kyle, who waited, net poised. The hawk even made a dash for the neighbouring Strand Golf Course, with Kyle in hot pursuit across a drainage ditch, only to double back. It took some nifty footwork, but we finally apprehended the injured bird, despite its remaining mobility.”
Though the rescue duo expected a panicked reaction, the majestic raptor remained remarkably calm once gently placed in a cat carrier. Seeing the bird of prey up close was “exhilarating to say the least”, Tredoux shares, lamenting not having his proper camera equipment to capture the moment.
According to Girodo, the bird rescue was initiated at 11:40 and was successfully completed about an hour later. The hawk was safely captured and transported to AWS Helderberg, where Dr Gareth Baine conducted X-rays which confirmed the wing was not broken. The bird is now recovering at a rehabilitation facility.
Asked how rewarding it is to know that, thanks to everyone’s swift actions, the bird’s prognosis is good, Tredoux responds:
“Amazingly rewarding. I would have been devastated if we had gone through the trouble and then it had to be euthanised.”
He further highlights the experience to underscore the importance of a robust support network, acknowledging that not all communities may have the same access or knowledge of who to contact. “The fact that I could reach out and immediately get a response from AWS Helderberg means future rescues, not just for birds, are a reality. It shows that community members can get assistance in delicate situations. Knowing these guys certainly gives me hope for the future. Thanks to the efforts of Wayne, Charles and Kyle, there is the possibility that this magnificent bird of prey will grace the sky above Dick Dent again.”
Tredoux emphasises that the key lesson for future bird rescues is assembling the right expertise. The recent effort, he notes, succeeded due to the knowledgeable individuals involved. He believes bird enthusiasts and clubs already possess, or can connect with, the knowledge to aid conservation.
Tredoux urges the community to seek out information on local wildlife and contacts for assistance, ensuring they know who to call for help.
