August proved to be less hectic than July, but still produced a total of 37 rescues for the month.
Activities were partially disrupted mid-month when I pulled a hamstring while attempting to catch a ‘darter’. Fortunately I caught the bird which made a full recovery at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital after a large fish hook was removed from its throat. This was some consolation for my injury. After 5 days rest I was able to resume restricted duties being very careful not to further damage the muscle. Three weeks on I’m still bruised but walking almost normally and fully functional.
There were many wonderful outcomes for the month. There were also the inevitable tragedies, however far more birds were saved than lives were lost.
Two of the most memorable were swans caught on the 2nd and 3rd.
The first bird had been seen trying to follow its partner out of the water by pushing along on its belly. I arrived to find it swimming with a leg cocked sideways out of the water. Much patience was needed for this capture because she was very wary and remained shielded behind her partner. An hour and a half of waiting finally produced the shot and she was caught.
The swan had a deep wrap of fishing line below her left knee. This was an advanced injury, cutting off circulation and causing severe swelling. It would have been excruciatingly painful and ultimately would have cost the bird her life. She was rushed to CWH with a 50/50 chance. I’m delighted to report that she made a full recovery and was released after only 7 days back onto Emerald Lakes to reunite with her partner.
Early the next morning I was called to another young swan (pictured above) seen with fishing line trailing from her left leg. She was unable to use that leg to swim. As she approached I took a hasty shot and missed the catch. Such a mistake can result in a further week to find the bird and get another chance – all the while the creature deteriorates.
Fortunately she was immature and 30 minutes later gave me a second opportunity which was successful.
The picture at right shows a soft plastic lure with a vicious hook buried deep just above the young swan’s ankle. Two centimetres lower and the hook would have destroyed the joint and killed the bird. This was a deliberate hooking. Clearly someone had cast the lure in her direction. Unfortunately there is quite a lot of this degenerate behaviour.
I’m pleased to say the hospital did a wonderful job and she was released back with her family 10 days later.
During the month I also spent time with Council representatives arranging extensions to a protective fence at Pizzy Park – an area that has experienced 5 dog attacks on swans in the past 18 months – by far the worst record of any area on the Gold Coast. Working with Council can be challenging but to their credit the extensions were completed in 3 weeks. Hopefully this will prevent further attacks.
On a final note … Karl and Karla, two mature swans from the Mermaid canals region that I have rescued and freed of fishing line on multiple occasions, became hooked again last week. They were swimming with their four 2 month old cygnets. I won’t relate the whole story but it took me three days to catch Karla and two of the cygnets. One cygnet had to be euthanized; another had to be hospitalised while a deep hook was removed from the back of its neck. Karla had to be freed of an entanglement around her legs.
The family is safe once again, minus one cygnet.
This recent hooking has spurred me to renew efforts with Dept. of Fisheries to make it illegal to set a fishing line anywhere in inland waters and leave it unattended. Currently it is legal to leave multiple lines unattended for as long as a fisher chooses. This is insane and results in multiple hookings of birds every year.
Thanks go to my small but enthusiastic sponsors and donors. Your help made all of these rescues possible.