Manager of Conservation programs, CVWMA

 

On November 7^th, as I was heading out to conduct a waterfowl count at Duck Lake, I came upon a Western Grebe in an unusual location, in a channel at the south end of the lake. The grebe caught my attention as it was behaving differently than what I am used to seeing. After having a look through my binoculars, I quickly realized that the grebe was in trouble; I could see a bundle of fishing line on its back and a strand trailing behind to which a cattail was attached. The grebe was swimming around close to shore and tried to dive as it normally would to escape danger as I approached it but couldn’t make any headway.

 

I reached out to my work colleagues to get help and Alyson promptly brought out a kayak and a net so we could attempt to capture the bird. Once Alyson arrived, I slipped into the kayak and proceeded to slowly “herd” the grebe toward the shore where she stood with the net. The grebe swam around and attempted to dive under the kayak to escape but really couldn’t make it and instead came up to the surface abruptly and jumped out at me! Fortunately, I was prepared, with my safety glasses on, and grabbed it by the neck gently and put it into the net. On the way into the net, probably in a state of shock, it let go of its stomach contents and my pants were suddenly covered with this “mashed pea” like green substance. Luckily, it didn’t have much of a smell!

 

I held the grebe while Alyson cut up the fishing line that was firmly wrapped around its legs, wings and neck. Fortunately, the fishing hook was on the line that trailed behind the bird and was not lodged into its mouth. BC Conservation Officer Blake Day happened to drive by on the dike as we were rescuing the bird and stopped by to lend a hand. We checked the grebe for cuts or injuries and it appeared to be unharmed. We released the bird into the channel where it rested for a while, but eventually swam away.

 

The fascinating thing about the whole experience is that the grebe (and us too!) was being watched by an adult Bald Eagle perched on a branch from the time I detected the grebe to the time we released the bird…and we made sure to spook the eagle away to give the grebe a chance to recuperate!

 

This is a good reminder for anglers to dispose of old or broken fishing line responsibly when feasible! The Creston Valley Rod & Gun Club has installed a number of fishing line disposal tubes at specific locations in the valley to help with reducing issues with fishing line.