DISCARDED fishing line, hooks and tackle have proved to be a death sentence for our local pelicans, with one having to be euthanased earlier this month and seven injured birds being reported to Great Lakes Wildlife Rescue in the past two weeks.
Over the June long weekend, the Myall Koala & Environment Support Group received a call from one of their members who had spotted a pelican with its neck and beak tangled in fishing line at the Hawks Nest boat ramp.
Member of the group, Ian Morphett, said they spent a couple of unproductive hours attempting to catch the bird before deciding to call in the experts.
Local representative of Great Lakes Wildlife Rescue (GLWR) and Native Animal Trust Fund (NATF), Danella Weatherstone, answered the call as quickly as she could, however even with a throw-net she was unable to snare the now very timid bird.
This pelican wasn't the only one that needed rescuing, as soon after another one was spotted with fishing line and sinkers tightly wrapped around its leg and wing.
"By then it was late in the very wet and windy day, so we decided to postpone activities until the next day," said Mr Morphett.
After realising there was more than just the one rescue to handle, Danella called in reinforcements, Trudy and Sue from NATF, and the quest was continued the following day.
A report was received that the initial pelican had been seen at the western Tea Gardens boat ramp, so off headed the rescue team.
"Trudy immediately deduced that the pelican was too timid to catch on the shore and commandeered a boat with a couple of local lads on board, managing to catch it on the water," said Mr Morphett.
"After untangling the line we found that the pelican had actually swallowed the hook, which was so far down its throat that Trudy could not reach it.
"We put the bird in the car and went to Hawks Nest looking for the second injured bird," he said.
Whilst searching, the group stumbled across a third pelican tangled in fishing line.
"We caught it and found that it had a rusting fishhook embedded in its beak.
"Trudy and Danella were able to remove the hook but not the entire abscess it caused.
"The pelican was put in the car to be taken for treatment," continued Mr Morphett.
Danella added that a fourth bird was reported injured during that same week.
"Trudy came down to Tea Gardens on her own, caught the pelican, who had a hook in her foot, removed the hook, treated the bird and let her go," she said.
Since the rescues, the pelicans are recovering well and have now been released. However, three more pelicans have since been spotted in the local area, tangled in fishing line, bringing the total number of injured birds to seven.
Danella urges fishermen to pack up their old line and tackle when they put on new sinkers or lures, and leave nothing behind when they depart, as pelicans walk through this discarded gear and get their feet and legs tangled in it.
"Some are even swallowing it because they are attracted to the shiny lures and sinkers," she explained.
Tangled fishing line can cause deep lacerations to a pelican's wings and legs. Dr Paul Collins from the Myall Street Veterinary Clinic explained that fishing line slowly cuts into the birds skin, allowing bacteria into the bloodstream. The bacteria releases toxins into the animal which causes a slow, painful death from septicaemia and gangrene.
If you spot an injured pelican, report it to Great Lakes Wildlife Rescue on 4997 6388 straight away, as the longer you leave it the more damage is done.
"Report all pelican sightings but don't approach the birds as this makes them wary of people, making our job a lot harder as they are then extremely difficult to catch," explained Danella.
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