Posted by Austin Thomas on April 16, 2012 at 3:37 PM
I have been spending some time with Great Crested Grebes recently and here is one of a Grebe with fishing line in and around its beak.
I have to say that it didn't look or behave stressed in any way. I think the picture shows a fairly calm and relaxed subject but I will be keeping an eye on this one to make sure it is able to free itself of the line.
It was heading in the direction of its nest so fingers crossed it is nesting material that wont cause any harm to the adults or young in the coming weeks...
Canon 1dMK4, 800mm, f8, 1/2000, ISO640
There is a larger image on my website HERE for those that are interested.
That kind of looks like a fatal tangle to me Austin, and one that might result in death by starvation - having fished in the past, it looks like the bird has tried to eat a dead bait - is that a set of trebles in the lower beak
Posted by Austin Thomas on April 16, 2012 at 4:47 PM
Hi Graham,
I don't see a hook on any of the images I took. It is certainly fishing line and there are some small knots in that line and a small section of "string" ? which could be nylon based. The lighter area in the lower beak is the "string" that I mention.
I will take by bins in the morning and have a good look out for it. If I see it again with the line still attached I will contact the RSPCA.
Cheers
Austin
Posted by Nick Mckeown on April 16, 2012 at 5:33 PM
Beautiful image Austin. I realise the fishing line is an unusual addition to the bird but it does tell an enviromental story. Hope everything turns out OK.
Nick.
Posted by Phil Ellard on April 16, 2012 at 5:58 PM
Reminds me of the fur seals in cape town water front, most had either fishing line around them or scars from where they had ... fine image btw, would have prefered more room rhs and bottom to see full reflection. IMHO hope the birds OK
Posted by John Robinson on April 16, 2012 at 7:34 PM
Great Grebe shot what ever !
I live in Bewdley- one of the biggest barbel fishing area on the Severn so this sort of thing is a common sight.
JR
Hey Austin, looks like your patience is paying off.
Would have liked to have seen this posted bigger to get the full potential of the image. Is this FF, or cropped, as I wonder if it needs a hint more on the RHS, or smaller in frame, etc, etc as I'm just a little uncertain about the subject in frame. Posting bigger would also offer more detail in the face as I think the compression to this size has not done justice to the 800.
Austin your image looks very good,it's a real shame about the line stuck on the bird afraid i do not have a lot of hope for its future.
Keith.
Posted by Austin Thomas on April 17, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Hi all,
No sign of a Grebe with fishing wire on its beak today which could be good news and it is now free of the line or bad news that it is hiding somewhere. I will keep checking back.
@Steve. This is almost FF . I have cropped about 5% off the RHS and I agree that I should put it back. The ripples at the back of the Grebe continue out of the frame so I decided to crop tighter as I couldn't include the complete water disturbance.
I have plenty of others without fishing line so I will work on one of those images for a future post.
Austin a good image and one that could be used to highlight the occasional carelessness of those who go fishing... so often do we see line left in trees, laying around on swims or as in this case entangled on a bird... on occasions I have tried to clear fishing line away only to find a hook still attached....
Discussion
11 repliesI have to say that it didn't look or behave stressed in any way. I think the picture shows a fairly calm and relaxed subject but I will be keeping an eye on this one to make sure it is able to free itself of the line.
It was heading in the direction of its nest so fingers crossed it is nesting material that wont cause any harm to the adults or young in the coming weeks...
Canon 1dMK4, 800mm, f8, 1/2000, ISO640
There is a larger image on my website HERE for those that are interested.
I don't see a hook on any of the images I took. It is certainly fishing line and there are some small knots in that line and a small section of "string" ? which could be nylon based. The lighter area in the lower beak is the "string" that I mention.
I will take by bins in the morning and have a good look out for it. If I see it again with the line still attached I will contact the RSPCA.
Cheers
Austin
Nick.
I live in Bewdley- one of the biggest barbel fishing area on the Severn so this sort of thing is a common sight.
JR
Would have liked to have seen this posted bigger to get the full potential of the image. Is this FF, or cropped, as I wonder if it needs a hint more on the RHS, or smaller in frame, etc, etc as I'm just a little uncertain about the subject in frame. Posting bigger would also offer more detail in the face as I think the compression to this size has not done justice to the 800.
Look fwd to more soon.
TFS
Steve
Keith.
No sign of a Grebe with fishing wire on its beak today which could be good news and it is now free of the line or bad news that it is hiding somewhere. I will keep checking back.
@Steve. This is almost FF . I have cropped about 5% off the RHS and I agree that I should put it back. The ripples at the back of the Grebe continue out of the frame so I decided to crop tighter as I couldn't include the complete water disturbance.
I have plenty of others without fishing line so I will work on one of those images for a future post.
Cheers
Austin
Fingers crossed that all is OK here....
Matt