Environment
Plea After Bird Caught in Fishing Line
Kylie Rollins was on hand to rescue a gull from the Silverburn River
A wildlife charity is asking people who go fishing to be more considerate about what they do with their lines after a series of birds have been injured or died in recent weeks.
Manx Wild Bird Aid rescued a gull from the Silverburn River yesterday after it got tangled in fishing wire.
The charity said that some people from the Engine House alerted it to a gull that was tangled in fishing line. It was strewn around the trees on both sides of the river and the young gull was ‘fighting for his life to escape’.
It said: ‘Kylie Rollins appeared on the scene and promptly dashed to the side of the river she could get in and waded over to the frantic bird that wouldn’t have lasted much longer as the line was round his neck as well as his wings. She managed to get to the gull & cutters were thrown in the river to her so she could cut the bird off the long lines that held him.
‘She handed the bird to David and then went back to make sure all the fishing line was collected. Incidentally, she was in the vicinity as she has brought me a gull that had been hit by a car outside the Castletown Football Club. That’s the 2nd she has picked up in the same place in a week.’
The charity said that in the days before this, it was contacted about a young gull in Castletown Harbour that had a hook and weight attached to his beak, he could fly so couldn’t be caught.
A month ago it also had constant calls about a gull with his legs tied together with fishing line. Volunteers went out on a few occasions, but again, he could fly away.
It added: ‘ About a week ago the calls changed to a gull whose foot had dropped off & he was struggling to feed his young as the leg was badly infected. That’s what happens with tight fishing line.
‘A Shag died yesterday on its way to the vets. The vets did a post mortem on the body & found he had a hook & a lure. The bird hadn’t eaten for around 7 days.
‘We have guidelines for fishermen and your children who may go fishing on their own. Children may not know the best practices but if you could let your child know, it may help to save a bird.’
