NEWS

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING DOWN AT INANDA MEWS?
By Christine Roberts 

Glodel and Trevor Oertel, with their staff of S.A.N.B.P.C. and 20 resident birds at Inanda Mews Centre are just one huge, happy family and they love to regularly introduce their new birds to Inanda Club members.

One of their most recent arrivals is Felix, a mature Peregrine Falcon, quite the handsomest bird they’ve cared for, to date!  He was rescued by a man from Benoni after witnessing the bird being shot by a neighbour. 

Glodel took the injured bird to the Johannesburg Zoo where resident vet, Dr. Alex, did extensive surgery to his broken wing.  While Felix made an excellent recovery, the break required a further surgical procedure, which has only been perfected in the USA.  So, in two weeks time he goes back to Dr. Alex who believes this particular kind of surgery will then enable Felix to be put into a breeding project. 

In captivity, a bird like Felix can live for 20 to 30 years, as he gets fed every day, has no fear of predators and receives attention from a vet.  But, in the wild his life expectancy would be half that number. 

A Barn Owl called Pippin, in his second year is another new arrival.  He’s a Barn Owl that is an imprint.  This means he’s got no idea that he’s an owl.  Instead, he believes that he’s a human due to being raised by people. 

And, he soon seized opportunity for a short break away!  It happened one Sunday morning following a photo session with a group of amateur photographers.  He’d eaten well then decided to settle for the rest of the day up a tree, having managed to snatch a mouse beforehand.  Forty-eight hours later, having “slept-around Inanda Club’s grounds” for two nights, he was spotted by a chef, who recognised him, called his name and he came down to sit on his arm, none the worse for his experience! 

Each time a new bird arrives; Glodel finds an appropriate name for them.  She looks at each bird and sometimes finds that they may remind her of somebody and she will name them after that person.  Or, she will choose a name with a special meaning.  For example, Felix means happiness and as their new peregrine falcon is such a beautiful bird, it was a perfect name for him, she explained.  Besides, they must have a name in order to keep each bird’s personal daily record, monitoring their daily weight on a digital scale, their diet, health, progress, comments, etc. 

Willow is a Greater Kestrel in his first year.  When he arrived from Pietersburg, he was in very poor condition.  At Inanda Mews, they are building him up and are hoping to release him by the summer. 

Preparing for release: 

Says Glodel:  “It is the natural cycle of events to be able to put a bird back in to the environment, in the hopes that the second time around it will be successful.

“When preparing birds for release, we fly them totally free, applying falconry principles and techniques.  They are not kept in an aviary so they do get to use all their muscles, and we ensure their weight is up and their feathers are in good condition. 

“We try to release as many birds as we can, but not during winter,” she advised.  The birds are fed each morning and, depending on the weather, are sprayed down daily, which encourages them to preen. 

Nelson is a gorgeous Pale Chanting Goshawk who has perfected his singing to such an extend that he’s beginning to sound like a warbler!  He was discovered sitting on the roof of a home in Parktown where he stayed five days and didn’t want to leave.  The owner had a large dog and was afraid it might hurt the bird.  When Glodel saw it, she realised it was an imprint that had escaped.  Thus, Nelson is destined to become part of their Inanda educational flying team. 

Birds are sometimes moved between different centres operated by Glodel’s dedicated teams.  There is the Durban Mobile team; the Centre at Kapanonong in Benoni; Inanda Mews and Meropa in Pietersburg. 

She is thrilled that her daughter Deborah, 21, is following in her footsteps and is now running the operation at Inanda Mews. 

Deborah has always been interested in wildlife.  Family pets have included dogs, cats, ducks and a hen.  She confirms the best way to learn her job is hands-on.  “For my first couple of days, it was like being thrown in at the deep end, “she confided.  “But you learn quickly and I find it such relaxing work, sitting with the birds in our various locations which are all calm and quiet. 

“My worst moment was when I took the birds out for my first school display.  Four hundred teenage boys were seated on the grand stand of their school rugby field.  During the performance, Nicole and I were flying Sway, a Barn Owl in her first year.  She flew between us and at one stage Nicole asked me to pick her up. 

I attempted unsuccessfully, on many occasions, to do this, but every time without fail, Sway ducked and dived and the audience roared with laughter each time the bird ran away.  It was so embarrassing.  But it all worked out in the end.” 

If you’ve not been to visit our birds for a while, then do pop in at the Mews during the week or come to see the flying display on Sundays around 10am.  Check with Inanda Club Reception regarding time of display each Sunday.