Ibis entwined with fishing line rescued by Gold Coast man after hunting him for five weeks

A DEDICATED Gold Coast man has stalked one of Australia’s most hated birds — for five weeks — to rescue it for just a quick, but lifesaving, 10 minute job.

Rowley Goonan of Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast has finally rescued an ibis after five weeks of stalking his elusive bird. Picture: Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast

AN IBIS has been caught third time lucky after fishing twine wrapped around his ankle, threatening to sever his leg.

Rowley Goonan from Wild Bird Rescue Gold Coast ‘hunted’ down the injured ibis for five weeks before he managed to snag the elusive bird at Runaway Bay. And that was after two previous failed attempts.

Rowley Goonan of Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast has finally rescued an ibis after five weeks of stalking his elusive bird. Picture: Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast

And while most people might question just why he would put all that effort in for Australia’s most infamous ‘bin chicken’, Mr Goonan said if he hadn’t have caught the bird, the tightly wrapped line would have taken his foot off.

“Ibis can’t manage on just one foot,” he said.

“They struggle to forage and eventually starve. I had to get him. I rescue birds, the thing is I never want to see a creature suffering.”

Finally got him! Mr Goonan with the ibis. Picture: Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast

Runaway Bay resident Wendy, who helped to catch the bird by luring it to her house. Picture: Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast

Mr Goonan said over the five weeks he had probably spent at least 20 attempted capture hours on him, waiting and trying to get close.

He had also dropped what he was doing on a number of occasions to see if he could catch the bird whenever someone had spotted him.

“I don’t know what it is about ibis, once they recognise you (after trying to get catch them) ... you can’t get anywhere near them,” he said.

The debilitating wire wrapped around his leg. Picture: Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast

“They become very wary. I’ve had (ibis) spot my car ... he can take off to the air from 200 metres away.”

So with the help of a Runaway Bay resident called Wendy, the bird was regularly lured to her house over a number of weeks in an effort get him accustomed to her.

Finally free of fishing line. Picture: Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast

Finally the bird was close enough so that Mr Goonan could fire his net gun and capture the ibis.

Mr Goonan took the fishing line off him — a job that took just 10 minutes — and released him. He said the only reason the ibis hadn’t lost his leg earlier was that the fishing line appeared to be older and brittle.

Mr Goonan said he caught at least 70 birds each year tangled in discarded fishing line.

The ibis is expected to make a full recovery in the near future.