Distressed Ibis bird found at Southport with severe injuries to feet from fishing line
Fisherman and boaties are being urged to properly discard used fishing line in tackle bins as wildlife continue to entangle and injure themselves. An ibis has been found at Southport with deep wounds to its feet.
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AROUND 50 Ibis birds will be rescued and treated for injuries over the year due to fishing line cutting deeply into their feet as fisherman continue to discard fishing line at local hot spots, endangering local wildlife.
Rowley Goonan from Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast saved an ibis found at Southport last week whose toes were nearly amputated from fishing line wound tightly around its feet.
Mr Goonan wrapped the distressed bird in a towel and safely removed the line, which he said was “cutting off his toes”, before it was released.
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“I’m not sure that damaged middle toe will survive,” he said.
“What I do know is the creature is suffering a lot less pain.”
Mr Goonan said all it was took was a “couple of metres” of dropped fishing line potentially represent months of misery and maiming for any bird unlucky enough to walk into it and have it catch on its toes.
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“If you fish, never drop unwanted fishing line on the ground,” he said.
“Wrap it tightly into a ball and tie it off before putting it into a bin.
“That way it can’t go on entangling foraging birds when it gets to the tip.
“Alternatively, incinerate the line with a lighter.
“If you see a bird limping there’s a good chance its toes or feet are entangled in fishing line, cotton or even in human hair.”
However, on a positive note, the Tackle Bin Project which was launched two years ago has so far surpassed expectations, collecting more than 58km of fishing line, and thousands of hooks, sinkers and bait bags from local fishing hot spots.
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The project, which currently has 13 bins across the Coast with plans to add more in the coming months, encourages anglers to throw their rubbish away rather than leave it in the waterways where birds can be injured.
Last year, the project recorded just under 24km of fishing line, 1789 bait bags, 1001 sinkers, 2326 hooks and 671 lures and floats.
Since the start of this year, nearly 7km of fishing line has been retrieved, with already 880 hooks and 653 bait bags recorded as well.
Discarding fishing tackle carries fines of $252 up to $5046 for individuals under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
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