AT the end of October a Common Blackheaded Gull was spotted in the Paarl Bird Sanctuary - a national rarity. Now, however, birders can come to Paarl for a COMMON ARMED ROBBERY.
This is easily found by having nice expensive binoculars, a good car and a face that says you’ve got money!
The best place to spot it? The island hide where two friendly local guides will point out the superiority of guns and knives as a means of spotting over binoculars and you in frustration donate your binoculars, cash, credit cards and cell phones to ensure that they may have been Previously Disadvantaged, but they don’t have to stay that way.
Please don’t come in a group, but rather one or two at a time, as the locals may be too shy to help you spot the (previous) rarity is now becoming a rather standard tick.
You have been warned. My wife and I were the fortunate (?) Spotters at 13:45 on the afternoon of 8 November.
Despite the security guard, a gate guard and even workers - this bird is proving not to be so shy anymore.
As had been said about other sites in South Africa, the best birding sites are going - and those that are not going, are becoming too dangerous. Stamp collecting anyone?
We would like to know what measures the Drakenstein Municipality has taken to make sure that visitors are safe in our valley and more specifically in the Paarl Bird Sanctuary.
With 2010 around the corner, this does not bode well for our tourist industry.
* This comment was posted on Birdnet to warn all local and visiting birders to our beautiful valley.
Disillusioned birders
