Fledgling given hope in Kelland

Do you know what steps to follow when you find urban wildlife in your backyard?

The Randburg Sun was recently on-site with Jonathan Haw, owner of EcoSolutions – an initiative which looks at environmental solutions and specialises in integrated pest management – when he and his team were at Willows Estate to place a six-week-old African harrier-hawk back in its nest.

Though these birds are not common, they are found throughout Johannesburg nesting in big gum trees. Residents of the estate had been monitoring this particular bird for some time and when it landed in a resident’s backyard, the bird of prey was quickly taken to the Johannesburg Wildlife Vet where it was examined and given a clean bill of health.

“That’s when the clock starts ticking, because it now needs to be returned to the nest it came from as quickly as possible,” explained Haw. He explained that the bird had to be put back where it came from – their territory, a place they know and where its parents will come back to feed and look after it. “In urban wildlife, we have a concept that if we find something like this, we have to release it somewhere in the countryside – this is not true. These birds are living within the urban environment and we want them in the urban environment.

They are surviving and thriving in some cases, so removing the bird from the city is a mistake.” According to Haw, the chick was learning to fly and, in its attempts to fly away, it landed in someone’s garden within the estate. He said that often when young birds are fledging, one of the problems they are confronted with in any city is that people think it is a good idea to come to their aid and ‘rescue’ them. “They do not need rescuing at this stage, they just need a couple of days and soon they will be up and flying and doing their thing.” Haw shared that it is always a good idea to leave birds alone. If you are concerned about them, take a picture and send the image to an accredited rehabilitation facility.

They will be able to tell you more about the bird and what course of action to take. However, it is important to note that efforts in trying to save this bird do not just stop there, Haw explained. You need to follow through and find out information about the animal, like when [the facility] will be bringing [the bird] back.

“The only reason they would not be bringing it back is that it has possibly died as there is no reason to release it anywhere else but where it was found.” He said often people do not know this, and rehab facility will arrive, pick up the bird and you’ll never hear of them again.

This is why it is important to deal with an accredited rehab centre. The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) gives accreditation to centres that practice good animal welfare – this is what the public should look for. Residents can phone their local SPCA and they will be given a number to call if one is not called for them. Shortly after the bird at Willows Estate was put back in its nest, it sat up and began calling out for its parents, which was a good sign.

Details: EcoSolutions 011 791 7326.

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