Birdlife on the Dam
The vehicle registration plate for George is CAW. Cold and Wet, everybody says. But when it's Warm and Dry, it's Goddamn Beautiful. Say hello to our Cormorant. He lives there with his family. He has a branch. With a view. The Egyptian Goose is also a permanent inhabitant. One of Mandy's ducks flew away from her house and joined the cosmopolitan community on The Dam. The ranger told her that he had seen a newcomer. We could swear Daffy came when we called her name. That day, however, she was nowhere to be seen. Elderflower trees line the path around the dam together with Proteas and an all-sorts of indigenous flora Amidst all this beauty, there is a sombre tone to the gardens now. A simple wreath and a rock mark the spot where a father killed his 3-year old son and then himself. He lured the son away by telling him they were going to feed the ducks. We had been there the day before.