We Rescued a Seagull Today

Where We Are at Lake Cahuilla Jan 2 - Jan 9, 2013



Bob and I have long been active advocates of doing what we can to save marine life from the thoughtless and/or reckless behavior of humans.  In particular we go out of our way to pick up monofilament fishing line that litters the shoreline of many lakes we have visited. 

As stated on this website http://mrrp.myfwc.com/ : 

"Every day, improperly discarded monofilament fishing line causes devastating problems for marine life and the environment. Marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and birds become injured from entanglements, or might ingest the line, often dying as a result. Human divers and swimmers are also at risk from entanglements and the line can also damage boat propellers." 

And on this website http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/2012/09/entanglement-heermans-gull-v-discarded-fishing-line/ :

"Monofilament fishing line pollution poses a problem to myriad aquatic species. For birds, the injuries that can result aren’t limited to swallowed hooks: Fishing line entanglement can severely impact a bird’s ability to fly and feed, and deeply embedded entanglement can mean amputation if the bird is lucky enough to be taken into care."   

Today we witnessed what this monofilament fishing line can do to a sea bird. 

About 10 minutes into our walk around Lake Cahuilla we saw a seagull at water's edge lying on it's back and struggling unsuccessfully to right itself.  Bob and I watched it flop around for a minute and questioned what we could do to help it.  I didn't want to get near it if it was sick, but I couldn't leave it alone to die either.  I suggested Bob approach it and try to turn it over with a stick to see if he could help it get back on its feet.   (Notice it was ok with me for Bob to get close to it.)

Curiosity made me approach the bird with Bob and immediately I saw the reason for this bird's predicament.  It had a fishing hook embedded in its foot and the attached monofilament was wrapped around both of its legs.

I picked up the bird (this is the first time I have ever held a wild bird).  It didn't object as I wrapped my hands around its body.  It was light in weight and droplets of water rolled off its soft feathers.  I had intended to take it to the park entrance for ranger help, but Bob thought maybe we could provide the aide.  And he was right.

Bob was able to remove the hook from the gull's foot and untangle the monofilament from around its legs.  While holding the bird, I noticed that the other end of the line was hanging out of the bird's beak - the rest of it extended down its throat.  I thought the bird had swallowed a 2nd hook and that it would surely die.  At that moment a Riverside County Parks worker drove by and I flagged him down.   He was more than happy to help.

The Parks worker tugged on the line extending from the bird's beak and eventually was successful in extracting the other end of it which had wadded itself into a ball in the bird's stomach. 

I'm glad I was holding the bird and was well out of reach of its beak which it used quite freely and frequently to attack the fingers of its rescuer.

I set the gull down and after a moment, it stumbled down the embankment and into the water.  It looked tired and was not yet able to fly, but swam away under its own power. 

Being able to rescue this bird from a certain death caused by a careless act by a human was quite rewarding and gave us a new resolve to keep looking for stray monofilament anywhere fishing is a past time.

My only regret is that I didn't have my camera with me to document yet another animal affected by our human-abused environment. 

All the same I feel like we are Super Heros. 

Just another day "Being Where We Are" at Lake Cahuilla in La Quinta, Ca.