But for the kindness of a passing motorist, this tangled little fishing bird would have had a much less happy ending.

 

Little Pied Cormorant     Phalacrocorax melanoleucos

We got a call from a local Caravan Park on the slopes of Mt. Warning, saying that they had a Cormorant entangled in fishing line. I arrived to find the owner had contained the bird, a Little Pied Cormorant, in a large aviary. The Cormorant had been fishing in Breakfast Creek, where he'd unfortunately had an unexpected meeting with the fishing line, his left leg becoming completely entangled. A passing motorist had luckily spotted, and caught the bird, and then taken him up to the Caravan Park.

When I got there, the owner of the Caravan Park had already removed a large tangled nylon mess from the feisty (understatement) feathered fishing bird, but the Cormorant was still carrying, and trailing, a mass of line, 2 sinkers, a hook, and assorted twigs and leaves.

After catching the bird with a large towel, and transporting him home, we set about removing the mess. I held the bird in a towel, to keep his head covered, and calm, whilst my partner Sue gently went to work with a sharp pair of scissors. Once sorted out, the entire mess, which was wrapped around his leg, a wing, and even around his neck, was actually all held on with just one single strand. Snip... and he was free of his excess baggage.

We kept the bird in care for just 2 hours. Just long enough to calm him down, and assess that there was no permanent damage to the leg, before taking him back to the exact spot where he'd been found.

Arriving at the bridge, overlooking some rocks on Breakfast Creek, we met a lady, Chrissy Eustace, who was taking photos with her digital camera for her & her husband's website: www.aroundoz.8m.com a site for A-Frame campers in Australia. She was instantly interested in the Cormorant release, and asked to take some photos (featured on this page).

After a quick 'photo shoot', it was down to the water's edge for release. Such a lovely feeling to let go of the bird, and watch him arc away in a long slow glide just above the surface of the creek, flying about 50 metres before coming to rest on a favourite rock (judging by the 'whitewash'). Once there he immediately assumed the typical Cormorant stance; wings outstretched, and preening. In the late afternoon light, we left him to it...

This was a happy ending, because the fishing line was not tangled too tightly. He, or She, had obviously met with the nylon mat only recently, as it had not tightened enough to cut into the leg. Had this lucky Cormorant not been spotted by the passing motorist, this would undoubtedly not have been quite so happy. The line would have just kept twisting and tightening. At best, this bird would have been incapacitated to the point of not being able to fish properly - At worst, it would have either got an infection, lost the leg, or become entangled in vegetation. Trapped, and unable to feed, it would have been a slow and painful end.

To the unknown motorist... Thankyou.

This bird was very lucky. So many aren't. If you enjoy fishing... Please take all your discarded line home. A moments thought can save so much suffering.

To read more about problems with fishing line on our waterways click here.

Article by Dave Pinson

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Please give them a second chance...