Once many years ago I successfully freed a bird in a similar situation by
using a large treble hook and fishing line I was able to hook the line
entangling the bird (A loon) and then "reel in the bird". The lines of
course got all twisted up but I just cut them all away once I had access to
the bird. By the way, a loons bill is really sharp and one thing I wished I
had had during that adventure is something to throw over the bird to calm it
down. I ended up using my shirt and the loon puked all over it, and I never
got that smell out.

Rob Sandelin


_____

From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Christine
Lee
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 10:36 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Green Lake Pied-billed Grebe in Distress



We came across a pied-billed grebe in need of help earlier today at Green
Lake. The bird was entangled with monofilament fishing line, wrapped around
its wings, body, and neck. It was still quite mobile, able to dive,
outmaneuver, and probably feed. But it was clearly a stressed bird. We
worked with a Seattle Parks Department employee in a boat, trying to herd
the bird into a place we could capture it, but to no avail.

If someone has experience capturing waterbirds, you might have better luck.
Once in hand, it looks like the line could be easily snipped and removed.
On Sunday, the bird was staying in the vicinity of the bleachers/main boat
launch on the side of the lake, with 5 or 6 other grebes. The Parks
Department employee said he would call PAWS for us, but I'm not certain if
that happened.

Christine Lee
Seattle
heajean at gmail.com