Rolf Nischk

I first met Rolf in the mid-1980s when he was in the process of moving his avian veterinary practice from a business center to his established location on Malmesbury Road, Welgelegen.

He was subsequently appointed as the avian vet for my raptors. Rolf's expertise extended beyond raptors; he was also a respected breeder and judge of parrots and lizard canaries. Our shared interest in aviculture, with my focus on breeding Australian finches, led to a lasting friendship. Rolf was known for his direct and unambiguous communication style, which, while not always universally appreciated, was often effective.

He was also a compassionate veterinarian, frequently providing free care to animals of owners facing financial hardship. His sharp intellect was evident even in the early days of the internet. I recall a client who challenged his diagnosis based on online information, leading Rolf to suggest they seek treatment from their online source if they trusted it Furthermore, his astute observation regarding COVID-19 in early 2020 – that it was essentially a flu that had become politicized – and his early advocacy for Ivermectin, now extensively used in Japan, demonstrate his insightful perspective.

Rolf's death represents a considerable loss to his friends and the Western Cape birding community, and he is deeply missed.