Hi all.

Just a word of warning with regards Abel Erasmus pass.

I stopped to try and get the Taiya Falcon for myself and Karen. I asked Karen to wait in the car for saftey while I first went to find it. Besides being seriously harrased by two ladies insisting on show me the falcon, the knife carrying gentleman joined in the group to help look for the falcon. When I told the I was going to fetch Karen as she also wanted to see it, they "suggested" I leave my binoculars while I go and fetch her so they can continue trying to find the falcon. Do I look like I have moron written on my forehead. Anyway the "I wantto fetch Karen" ruse was just the delay I needed to get the hell out of there ASAP!

I advise never go there EVER unless you are in a very large group and above all if one or two people in the group are visibly armed, better still.

Anyway I got out of there without injury or loss of life and still having all my posessions but what a scary place!!!'

Never again!!!!! We can go to Kenya to get Karen her Taita Falcon.

Doug,

I don't know how true this is, but I heard from someone visiting our project site here in Guinea that Michael(?) the curio stall owner and "Taita custodian" died a couple of months ago. This could be the reason for your experience.

Neil

Hi Neil.

Gordon spoke to Michael about three weeks ago? This could of course be another "michael" as we cannot remember what he looked like.

Fortunately nothing physically happened nut when three guys stroll up the road, all with knives and then fold them up and put them away I am hardly going to wait around to see if they do mean me any harm.

I suspect it might be that as I was with two ladies from the stall, there was no incident. It did certainly leave me rattled.

Sorry to hear about your experience, Doug. It's a pity that people are going to be reluctant to stop at this site in future for fear of being robbed or harmed. I wonder if these thugs realise that they are putting the livelihood of all the traders in the vicinity in jeopardy. Nobody will stop there if it's not safe, surely they don't have to be rocket scientists to realise they are harming their own people.
We were lucky to spot a Taita without the help of a guide a couple of years ago - we'll certainly not stop there again.

Very sorry to hear this Doug,

I was there a year last Summer. I asked for Michael, but he was unavailable at the time. I then asked one of the stallholders if they could show me the Falcons. Two girls came across with us. I gave one of the girls my Leica's (much to the shock of my South African friends) and she found the bird for me, high up on the cliff. We tipped the girls then spent almost an hour at the site. Before leaving we bought some of their carvings and bowls as an extra thank you. If the traders there start loosing revenue from passing birders, I'm sure they will sort it out themselves and start to have their own protection at the site so that they can continue to show the birds to passing birders/potential customers. It would be a shame if this site was spoilt by this sort of behaviour.

Dewi

I would love to go again and get the Taita for karen but not in a group of less than 8 - 10 people. Thank heavens two of the ladies were still helping me because when the three guys walked up and the ladies were still there, they casually put their knives away and I was hardly about to stay and see if my safety was at risk.

G'day all

My experience in 2006 was similar to Dewi's. My wife, son and I all hopped out and spent an hour or so with 2-3 women who helped us find the Falcon. We also bought some craft and gave them a tip for their bird spotting. I don't recall any men present. A very pleasant experience and good for us Aussies to have positive interaction with local villagers.

Hope the current situation is not ongong.

Cheers
Steve

I definitely met with Michael when I was there in January (very few other people would have that knowledge of the local birds including their calls). It was his sister that passed away, not Michael himself.

It is unfortunate that Doug had the experience and lucky that he was not harmed at all.

I would still go to the site myself but as usual when birding in South Africa keep an eye open for anyone or anything that appears unusual or out of place and if you feel uncomfortable, leave...

I have put Michaels details under the resources section of this site, so if you are visiting, rather just arrange with him before hand. Have a look at: http://www.simplybirding.com/shop/product_info.php/products_id/1503

Cheers,
Gordon