The receptacles for discarded line are also at several inland waterways - I have seen one at the Edward River in Deniliquin. A few scattered around popular fishing spots in the ACT would be good. Kambah Pool, where I see fisherpeople regularly, comes to mind
- I pick up bits of line every few weeks there.
Sandra H
On Wednesday, 6 March 2019, Rod Mackay <> wrote:
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Birds and fishing line
Reading Michael's posting about plastics and seabird mortality prompts me to put pen to paper about the dangers I have personally seen that fishing line can pose to birds. This is a bit long so feel free to hit the delete button, but it does have some relevance
to the Canberra region as well.
I'm just back from a kayak fishing expedition to Tuross and Narooma. Whilst trolling on the beautiful Wagonga Inlet at Narooma I was surprised by a flock of perhaps 15 - 20 birds that shot past me low down at very high speed, no chance to ID them they moved
so quickly, but I assumed they were a species of shorebirds. About a minute later another flock of similar size came through in similar fashion, about 5 - 6 feet above the water, coinciding with a huge hit on my line. I turned to land the "fish" only to find
a bird entangled in my line and struggling in the water.
I managed to get it to the side of the kayak and identified .... a feral pigeon/rock dove. Fortunately they are not aggressive and it calmed down so I was able to untangle it from the line, and I expected it to take flight. But no, it sat calmly on my hand
as it re-gathered its composure. After about 15 minutes I managed to persuade the bird to move up my arm, on to my shoulder (I'm feeling like Long John Silver at this point) then on to the landing net, from there on to the front of the kayak. It didn’t like
the slippery deck and joy oh joy it took flight and travelled the short distance to shore where it sat in the warm sunshine drying itself. I suspect the reason it hadn’t taken flight earlier was a mixture of shock and wet flight feathers. Whilst this was "only"
a lowly rock dove it could just as easily been one of the endangered shorebird species.
Last year I had another "Harry Butler" moment at Bemm River/Sydenham Inlet when I released an Australasian Grebe entangled in abandoned fishing line, caught up under overhanging branches. The bird was belly up in a hopelessly contorted position and had become
more entangled as it struggled to free itself, fortunately it had been able to twist its neck and get the tip of its beak above the water. Unlike the placid pigeon, this ungrateful little blighter constantly attacked my gloved hand as I was trying to release
it! And then shot through without a second glance!
Event no.3 was a great cormorant encountered on the beach as South Durras, so tangled up it was unable to fly. I tried to catch it but it escaped into the surf, and whilst it couldn't fly it could certainly swim - last seen off the headland, future prospects
not great.
Finally, right here in Canberra on two occasions I have seen little pied cormorants tangled up in fishing line, deceased, hanging like paper kites from trees at Molonglo Reach and Lake BG . So, whilst I don't think the situation with fishing line would be as
bad as with plastics, the message for we fisher folk (and anyone who finds discarded line) is to ensure it is disposed of thoughtfully. I have seen receptacles for unwanted line at several beaches so I guess the message is getting through.
Cheers
Rod M
PS Though the fishing at Tuross and Narooma wasn't spectacular there were some nice birding moments: emus on the beach at Blackfellows Point, sea eagles including a juvenile soaring, whistling kite, wonga and white headed pigeons, eastern curlews, pied oystercatchers,
striated heron, egrets,and that little jewel the azure kingfisher. Non-avian treats were a close up encounter with a seal in Wagonga Inlet having a fish dinner, and a diamond python mixed up with someone's camping gear at the Beachcomber holiday park!
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