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Very Disturbing: Blue Heron

R

Rachel Foster

New member
I was in the park today when I saw this.

032-1.jpg


iso 800, f/8.0, 1/100, 123mm.


The disturbing part is the fishing line.

045-1.jpg


iso 800, f/8.0, 1/60, 250mm.
 
G

Gary Ayala

New member
Man and nature do not mix ... I hope you told the park Ranger, or who ever manages the park so they can capture and free the bird from the fishing line.
 
R

Rachel Foster

New member
I spooked the bird to see if he could fly, and he did. But my concern is the possibility that there is a fishing hook embedded in his chest, or that the line will catch on something.
 
K

Ken Tanaka

pro member
It is very disturbing, Rachel.

Monofilament line (which is what this appears to be), such as found in recreational fishing as well as commercial fishing products, has been a horrific hazard to sea life and wetland wildlife for decades. Once an animal becomes entangled in, or ingests, this stuff it's nearly always an agonizing, slow death sentence.

The chemical companies that make this stuff have made sympathetic noises for a generation, promising to develop products that would be less collaterally hazardous to wildlife. But it's mostly been air movement.

If you're reading this, and you're also an angler or regularly use mono line, please, please be careful with his stuff.
 
J

John Sheehy

New member
Ken Tanaka said:
It is very disturbing, Rachel.

Monofilament line (which is what this appears to be), such as found in recreational fishing as well as commercial fishing products, has been a horrific hazard to sea life and wetland wildlife for decades. Once an animal becomes entangled in, or ingests, this stuff it's nearly always an agonizing, slow death sentence.

The chemical companies that make this stuff have made sympathetic noises for a generation, promising to develop products that would be less collaterally hazardous to wildlife. But it's mostly been air movement.

If you're reading this, and you're also an angler or regularly use mono line, please, please be careful with his stuff.
Click to expand...

It's not just monofilament; it is ridiculously thick and strong monofilament, used by a barbarian fisherman who allows no possibility for the fish to fight itself free once hooked. Last time I fished, I used 4 lb line which breaks with little effort, especially after being exposed to the sun and elements for any length of time. I've caught fish up to 30 lbs on 4 lb line. That looks like 30 or 40 lb line, which will remain strong for decades.
 
R

Rachel Foster

New member
I wish people would think about those things.


Of course, by far the least important part is I think that could have been a good image otherwise!
 
K

Ken Tanaka

pro member
But now we know your tricks for getting good wildlife images, Rachel. A little fishing line helps to expand your shutter speed range, eh? <g>
 
R

Rachel Foster

New member
Ha! Me and wildlife...that's been a long and winding road. Methinks you must ask the others for tips.

The shutter speed was quite slow on those, though. My monopod made a big difference.
 
G

Gary Ayala

New member
Rachel Foster said:
I wish people would think about those things.


Of course, by far the least important part is I think that could have been a good image otherwise!
Click to expand...

Actually it is a good image ... it conveys a message different than pristine (see above) ...

(the postings reminded me of my activities back in the 80s ... I help found SMART, Sea Mammal Assist and Rescue Team, a group along with Sea Shepard and the LA County Lifeguards, performed a duty close to what the heron required.

Unfortunately, migratory Gray Whales would get snarled in gill nets along the California coast. The extra drag of the nets would weaken the whales ultimately causing them to drown. SMART and Sea Shepherd would respond to whale sightings, (called in by the Lifeguards), cut the gill nets from whales ... freeing them to continue their migrations ... and their lives.

Gary
 
S

Sean DeMerchant

Inactive
John Sheehy said:
It's not just monofilament; it is ridiculously thick and strong monofilament, used by a barbarian fisherman who allows no possibility for the fish to fight itself free once hooked. .
Click to expand...

Considering the size of a great blue heron, that is likely fly fishing line intended to float on the surface as the line is about 2 mm thick by rough estimates.

As catch and release fishing is torture, the usage of smaller monfilament lines simply involves more line lost (breaks easier) and holes in the fish. How would you like a 0.3 m long 2 cm thick hook going in your mouth and out your cheek? I prefer to rapidly catch fish without them getting off the line. Those failed hookings simply torture the fish and waste time better spent taking photos. <smile>

enjoy your day,

Sean
 
Last edited:
S

Sean DeMerchant

Inactive
Rachel Foster said:
Sean, are there precautions a fisher could take to reduce/prevent this sort of thing?
Click to expand...

There is no good answer except only fishing for food and not sport (I do not see how torturing fish all day is a sport anymore than beating a dog with a club is sport). Heavier lines do not break as easily, but must be broken when hook snags something large. Lighter lines break easily. Using a line heavy enough to break off a hook would be ungainly except for fly fishermen.

Barbed versus unbarbed hooks are a similar catch 22. Barbed hooks bring in the fish more often, but are more likely to catch on stuff and get stuck in the water too.

In the end we should use reasonable line for the conditions (4 lb test) is a bad idea for stream fishing where snagging your hook on the bottom is common and retrieving a line is dangerous outside of the tiniest creeks.

Personally I do not fish often, but the 10 lb test on my tiny fishing pole will get fresh fish for dinner in 15 minutes or so from a virgin beaver pond. But I have always found fishing somewhat boring and prefer to hike and take photos (which gets me to locales where fishing is easy).

some thoughts but no real answers,

Sean
 
Charlotte Thompson

Charlotte Thompson

Well-known member
Rachel

hey I didnt look at this until now because I am such a sensitive soul these kinds of things deeply hurt me-
but
what a message and such a great crisp shot!
I for one think you should send this out- humans should be more aware of our planet and how we continually destroy it's innocence with our little greeds-


Charlotte-
 
R

Rachel Foster

New member
The Nature Conservancy has asked permission to use the original shots. Maybe awareness will be raised as a result of this poor bird's dilemma.
 
M

Michael Riley

New member
Gary Ayala said:
Actually it is a good image ... it conveys a message different than pristine (see above) ...

...

Gary
Click to expand...


I agree, Might be worth submitting to any number of nature conservancy magazines or organizations... Never mind.... I see you've already done that. ;) Good shot to illustrate a dreadful situation.

Mike
 
J

John Angulat

pro member
Sad. Very sad indeed

We certainly need to be more mindful in our co-existance with nature. As a fisherman I find myself chiding so many people who indiscriminately discard wads of fishing line. More than one "good" day of fishing has been ruined by a shoreline argument.
Thanks for posting. Maybe it will open one more pair of eyes.
 
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