A member of the public noticed a Rock Kestrel bird stuck within the roof of Weskus Mall on Saturday 12 February.
Jacques Nel of the Owl Orphanage was informed and did not hesitate to assess the situation and save the bird.
He told Weslander when a bird is placed in such a situation they can easily be injured.
Despite a fear of heights, and with the help of Weskus Mall’s operational manager Trevor Robertson and worker Mlindeni Bhukuqeki, Nel could complete the rescue at hand and ensure the well-being of the bird.
According to his observation there was an increase in the births of baby Rock Kestrel’s on the West Coast last year.
Nel says with the wide-variety of their diet including rodents, reptiles and more, Rock Kestrels is important to the environment and brings an ecological balance.
During the rescue, Nel related, the male was not far away and kept calling the female, as he was concerned about her. “They mate for life so they are very territorial and defend their area and their own, so you will not find one Rock Kestrel pair breeding in too close a proximity to another pair.”
The bird had just a few scratches, and after caring for her at the Owl Orphanage just for one evening Nel returned the bird to the mall as she is part of a breeding pair.
“She had all her energy back.”
