Mama and Baby Bird Found Snagged Together by Fishing Lure

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.care2.com/causes/mama-and-baby-bird-found-snagged-together-by-fishing-lure.html





by Megan Drake July 4, 20145:30 pm

International Bird Rescue (IBR) is an organization dedicated to helping aquatic birds, primarily those who have been damaged from oil spills. On June 24, 2014, a member discovered a grizzly sight. While checking on the Elegant Tern colony at Terminal Island near Los Angeles, California, biologist Nick Liberato found a baby tern chick attached to his mama by a three pronged fishing lure.

“I spotted them as I was ushering some stray chicks back through the chick fencing and into the main rookery,” Liberato says. “As is usually the case, tangled birds become noticeable when the rest of the colony moves away as one approaches,” he says. “At first, I thought they were just tangled in monofilament [fishing line], but when I saw that multi-hooked lure puncturing both of them, I knew my tools wouldn’t cut it, so I got them over to you guys [IBR] as quickly as possible.”



Fishing lure removed from mama and chick

The mama tern sustained injuries to her wing and the little chick was imbedded with two of the lure’s hooks through his left leg. Surgery was performed and the two are now separated but are still receiving intensive care and have a guarded prognosis. Andrew Harmon, Director of Marketing and Communication for IBR, told Care2 “at this point, it’s a 50/50 chance of survival for both.”

Bandage treatments and antibiotics are being administered in an attempt to save their lives. IBR writes “We’ve seen cases of monofilament fishing line entangling and injuring multiple seabirds, but this may be our first case of a fishing lure wounding both parent and chick.”

FULL story at link.

[shenmue]

1. Important story

Thanks for posting.