|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Humans get hooked on fishing, but sometimes so do birds
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
 |
![[Image]](/content_images/041907_pco-01-a.jpg) |
|
| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
| The monofilament line and hooks binding this pelican can hardly be seen from a distance. |
|
![[Image]](/content_images/041907_pco-01-b.jpg) |
|
| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
| Closer observation shows fishing line and tackle wrapped about the bird’s legs. The line also was wrapped about the bird’s wings and head. |
|
PINELLAS COUNTY – You see it all the time.
Pelicans and other wild birds entwined in monofilament fishing line suffering, and even dying from their injuries.
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary at 18328 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, admits between 25 and 30 wild birds each day with assorted issues. Many have fishing hooks piercing their bodies and line wrapped around legs, wings and even heads.
Michelle Simoneau, the sanctuary’s public relations director, said the facility gets thousands of birds each year with fishing line and hook injuries.
“It is probably the most common of all injuries,” Simoneau said.
There are more injured birds where fishing is more prevalent, such as at St. Petersburg’s Pier and John’s Pass in Madeira Beach.
Ralph Heath, the sanctuary’s founder, said fishing line not only injures seabirds, but other fowl as well.
“Birds that live on land use fishing line in their nests and the young ones become entangled and die,” Heath said.
More injuries occur this time of the year, the height of the tourist season. Often northerners don’t realize the dangers of casting a line into or near a group of birds.
Nine out of 10 birds brought to the sanctuary suffer from injuries caused directly or indirectly by humans. The feathered victims, besides entanglement in monofilament line, suffer gunshot wounds, poisoning by pesticides and other environmental pollution.
Heath said that hooks and lines are the major cause of death to seabirds. A bird flying off or swimming away dragging fishing line can get caught in vegetation or other objects in the water that can lead to a slow death by starvation or strangulation.
A line embedded around a leg or wing acts as a tourniquet, thereby preventing a steady flow of blood and thus causing the loss of a limb. Fish hooks can cause a deadly infection.
Heath suggests that the following list be placed in tackle boxes or boats so fishermen and women will know what to do if a bird accidentally is hooked:
• Reel the bird in slowly.
• Ask another fisherman for help so one person can hold the bird while the other works on it.
• Use a landing net and lift the bird carefully out of the water.
• Grasp the bird’s bill. Do not shut the bill completely. Open it a crack so the bird can breathe.
• Restrain the bird by folding its wings flat against its body.
• Cover the bird’s head with a towel or large cloth. The darkness calms the bird and the towel protects your hand.
• Locate the hook, push it through the skin until you see the barb. Cover the barb before cutting to prevent it from snapping off and injuring someone. The barb should be snipped with a wire cutter and the rest of the hook should be pulled out. Never pull a hook out without first removing the barb. Doing so could cause major injury to the bird.
• Look the bird over carefully making sure all fishing line and hooks have been removed.
• If the bird has swallowed the hook or is seriously injured, take it to the sanctuary or other wildlife rehabilitation center.
• Place the bird gently into the water, or on the ground near the water, but do not release it if it seems weak or ill. Discard the hook and fishing line in the trash can.
Injured birds can be dropped off daily at the sanctuary between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Call 391-6211 or visit seabird@seabirdsanctuary.com.
|
Article published on Thursday, April 19, 2007
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
|
