Fishermen - what to do if you hook a bird

On April 27th I wrote "A river runs through it" (no, not the Norman Maclean story) and yesterday, May 2nd, I listened to the ABA podcast. Even in blog writing things can occur serendipitously.  Recognizing that a fisherman is highly unlikely to ever read this blog, or that a birder is almost equally as unlikely to read an addendum posted at the end of one, I prepared this stand alone entry.  The photos below were taken a week ago and this observation continues to bother me.      

In the American Birding Podcast for May 1st, host Nate Swick and his guest panel Gabriel Foley, Frank Izaguirre and Purbita Saha reviewed the article titled:  Angler perceptions of pelican entanglement reveal opportunities for seabird conservation on fishing piers in Tampa Bay by B. Alexander Simmons. 

A very quick review: the article is an extensive study and review of anglers attitudes, perceptions and awareness about pelican entanglement in fishing gear and anglers confidence for knowing what to do if a pelican becomes entangled and opportunities for angler education.  Hint:  don't cut the line. 

From the Florida Audubon:  Fishermen's Tips for Releasing a Hooked Bird. 

Finally, I found this mesmerizing fifteen minute You Tube video from Last Cast Adventures titled:  What to do if you ACCIDENTALLY hook a BIRD - Cormorant.  

Fifteen minutes might be a time deterrent for some viewers to watch but I watched the entire video and found it fascinating.  I was struck by a few things.  1.  The guy making the video is an earnest and highly skilled fisherman.  2.  He was fishing alone from a kayak.  He must have been wearing a GoPro camera.  3.  He was persistent.  4.  One needs to be careful.  5.  I was struck by the fact that it is probably possible to intentionally hook a bird.

The comment that the young Belle Isle fisherman made to me "Yeah, it looks like someone hooked it and then cut the line" (again see 'A river runs though it') suggests that he knew the line should not have been cut. Until I heard the ABA podcast yesterday I didn't know this and would never have done this bit of research to educate myself.  I have often been struck by some of the similarities between birding and fishing. People do both either alone or with companions. People have a variety of skill levels.  Just as there are rules for responsible birding etiquette, there are also rules for responsible fishing etiquette.    

As I write in "A river runs through it" this is the second time this year I have seen a hooked and doomed bird.  Thanks to Nate Swick who suggested that this particular article be reviewed and presented on the American Birding Podcast.  I've said it many times, highly recommend this podcast for birders.  You never know what you will learn.

Of note:  I made two more visits to Belle Isle since seeing the Mute Swan on Nashua Canal.  The first revisit was two days later and I saw the bird again on Muskovy Lake.  I identified it by its skinny neck and the way it was listing to the left while paddling.  It was alone.  Two days later again I went to specifically find this Mute Swan - I counted 17 - but none were the hooked bird.