RETIRED lecturer, Garry Wiehahn, lives on a large plot in the small town of Adendorp, just outside Graaff-Reinet.
Known as the “Birdman of Adendorp”, at any one time he has between 300 and 350 birds, ranging from small quiet turquoisines and plumheads to raucous parrots and currently even an emu.
Garry has been fascinated with birds since he was a small boy. His collection gradually grew over the years, and he now has a total of 73 cages, including some large aviaries. Most of the birds have been bred by Wiehahn himself, and he has purpose-built nesting boxes incorporated into the cages.
About six years ago he decided to start breeding birds commercially, partly to subsidise his pension, but mainly to give himself something to keep busy. He sells to buyers all over the country, and has established a reputation for the quality and healthiness of his birds.
Locally, however, he is more known as the man to bring rescued or injured birds to.
Often children bring him young birds they have found, and one of his most memorable rescues was the time when he was given two falcons that had fallen from a nest.
He was delighted that both were able to be rehabilitated and released.
“I was also given a hoopoe chick, which I eventually released,” he added. “She comes back every year.”
With the smaller birds, often it is an unusual colouring that makes a bird more valuable.
In one row of cages, he has mutations of Australian grass parakeet (red rumps), covering a spectrum of shades.
Garry is extremely knowledgeable about all the birds, and many have a special place in his heart.
He is currently hand-rearing a turquoise blue ringneck, which is now eight weeks old. The mother abandoned her chicks, and when Garry found them, three were already dead. He estimated that the surviving chick, which was very weak, was about four days old, and initially fed it a special avian porridge every two hours.
One of his favourites is a 13-year-old blue-fronted Amazon he calls Krappie, because she always wants her head scratched.
She has no toes due to them being bitten off by a previous cage mate. His wife Loretta’s ‘babies’ are Modenna pigeons, which make a big fuss whenever she goes near.
There are benches strategically placed throughout his garden, and the couple spend many a peaceful evening relaxing and watching the different groups of their feathered family.
Anyone needing Wiehahn’s expertise in a rescue situation, or who would like advice on choosing the right bird as a pet, is welcome to contact him on 083 566 4896.
