FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] BKY: Sad Saga of a Great Blue

[Sid Easley <Sid.Easley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

     Some of you may remember Ben Yandell's account on BKY of rescuing a 
Great Blue Heron last year in Jonathan Creek.  He balanced his body and his 
safety in a kayak in spite of two aggressive cottonmouths who joined the 
fray.  Almost the same story this morning as I kayaked in the back creeks 
of Jonathan , but lucky for me the snakes did not chose to attend.

     I flushed up a Great Blue from the low branches of a tree only to see 
the tell tale sign of danger.  Twine on one end of the bill and the other 
end on its leg.  It could fly only short distances its head jerking 
backward with every wing beat. It was obviously stressed, breathed loud 
enough for me to hear it, and looked very thin.   How do you convince a big 
bird that you are trying to save him?  Where is Dr. Doolittle when you need 
him?  I was able to follow  it along the creek until it floundered into a 
brush pile and was stuck.  I teetered in the kayak, leaned over looking 
square into his beady eyes, and cut the twine into, whereupon it flew off 
down the creek. I seriously doubt this bird will make it because the twine 
is still wrapped around the lower mandible of it's bill, and it's back leg 
looked pretty gimby.  I am sure there was a hook in there somewhere.

    Fishermen tie this twine to branches along creeks and bait it with a 
hook.  I  think it is legal, but the fisherman is suppose to check the 
lines every 24 hrs. and cut them off when they are through with them.  Last 
year in a creek of Blood River I found a washtub size Alligator Snapping 
Turtle dead from lines like this.  I believe this turtle was at least 70-80 
years old and weighed certainly over 100 lbs.  Since then, I have kept my 
scissors handy in my kayak, and cut down anything resembling these lines 
and throw them in the trash. Today was no different.  I think I cut off 
half a dozen.  Maybe some of you boaters out there can do the same?

Melissa Easley
Murray, Ky.


================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============

The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign 
your messages with first & last name, city, & 
state abbreviation.
--------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to:
birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society
web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY
E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx