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Photo: Liezl Scheepers, Parys Gazette |
For most people, the story of wildlife rehabilitation begins when someone rescues a bird. What happens next usually remains hidden behind the gates of the facility.
Parys WADER is opening those gates through The Hidden World of Wild Bird Rehabilitation, a new visitor programme for schools, families, weekend visitors to Parys, clubs, businesses, universities, and other groups. It takes visitors beyond the rescue and into the work that begins after a bird arrives and continues for as long as that individual needs care.
We speak honestly about the difficult welfare decisions we sometimes face and the long, careful process that may, where possible, lead to a bird returning to the wild.
What happens during the visit?
The morning starts indoors with a brief
introduction to the facility rules and the biosecurity measures visitors need
to follow.
We then sit down for an educational talk
about wild-bird rehabilitation: what happens when a bird comes into care, some
of the reasons birds need rehabilitation, the challenges involved, and the
realities that are often hidden from public view.
There is plenty of time for questions. In
fact, experience has already taught us that the questions are often one of the
most interesting parts of the morning.
After the talk, visitors are taken on a
guided tour of the areas of the facility that can safely be shown on the day.
Exactly what you see will depend on the
birds in our care. Parys WADER is first and foremost a working rehabilitation
facility, and patient welfare, treatment, biosecurity, and the daily work of
the facility will always determine which areas are accessible.
A brief look inside the clinic
Clinic access is always subject to the
patients in our care, as well as animal-welfare and biosecurity considerations.
The selected visitor will not handle rehabilitation patients.
You may also meet Nonna
We deliberately say may.
Her participation depends entirely on how
she is behaving and whether she is comfortable on the day. If she does not want
to participate, we do not force her. An appearance by Nonna can therefore never
be guaranteed.
This is an experience, not a training course
The Visitor Experience is designed to help
people understand wild-bird rehabilitation. It is not a training course, and we
do not teach visitors how to care for wild birds at home.
Visitors also do not handle, feed, or
interact directly with birds undergoing rehabilitation. These boundaries are
important because unnecessary human contact can interfere with the
rehabilitation process.
What does it cost?
We want the experience to remain affordable
for families and weekend visitors to Parys.
- Adults: R120 per person
- Children under 16: R80 per person
- Family: R320 for two adults and up to two children
The experience lasts approximately 2½
hours.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an
adult.
Only 10 places each month
One of the reasons we are moving to a
structured monthly session is simple: Parys WADER cannot operate like a zoo or
tourist attraction where people arrive whenever they wish.
Our days revolve around feeding, cleaning,
monitoring birds, preparing food, record-keeping, veterinary visits, new
admissions, and the many other jobs that keep a rehabilitation facility
running. The birds also need a controlled environment with as little
unnecessary disturbance as possible.
The second Sunday of each month at 10:00
gives us a dedicated time to welcome visitors without making public visits a
daily interruption to rehabilitation work.
Bookings close at 16:00 on the Friday
before the visit.
No walk-in visitors can be accommodated.
Visits also remain subject to the
operational needs of the facility. Rehabilitation emergencies do not keep
office hours, and there may occasionally be circumstances in which we have to
adapt, postpone, or reschedule a session.
What if the weather is bad?
The experience can still continue in most
weather conditions.
The educational talk, a possible brief
clinic visit, and a possible appearance by Nonna all take place indoors. If
rain or other weather conditions make the outdoor facility tour impractical, we
may shorten or adapt that part of the morning.
Schools, clubs, and non-profit organisations
Schools and other organised groups are
welcome to contact us about visits outside the monthly public session. These
are arranged separately according to the needs of the group and the operational
availability of the facility.
Registered non-profit, conservation,
community, and youth organisations that would like to visit or contribute
useful volunteer time are also welcome to contact us. These requests are
considered separately from the paid public Visitor Experience.
Book your place
If you are spending a weekend in Parys and
would like to see what really happens behind the scenes of wild-bird
rehabilitation, we would love to share that world with you.
With only 10 places available each month,
booking in advance is essential.
Second Sunday of every month
10:00–approximately 12:30
Bookings close at 16:00 on the Friday before the visit
Maximum 10 visitors
To book, WhatsApp Marisa on 064 963 5386.
Disclosure: Parys WADER holds a valid captivity permit for Nonna, our Western Barn Owl animal ambassador.
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