Executive Director Danielle Manriquez and Assistant Director Rachel O’Leary remove fishing line from a Great Blue Heron
On midday, January the 29th, Wildcare’s director Danielle Manriquez answered an emergency phone call. A resident of Early Pond (in Bishop) reported a “blue crane” that was trapped in some pond reeds.
Danielle and staffer Rachel O’Leary readied Wildcare’s ambulance and took off.
They arrived at the pond; parts of the pond were frozen. The unfrozen section was covered with reeds and easy to see the bird—a Great Blue Heron. A brief examination revealed numerous strands of fishing line—some regular line; some a heavy (almost crocheted) blue line.
Observation showed the heron jumping upward to fly away—but strings of line tangled on his legs yanked him down back into reed clumps. Danielle and Rachel could see the line and wanted to remove it. To do this, they would need to go into the pond. Fortunately, a neighbor loaned an excellent small paddle boat for Rachel and Danielle to use.
They reached the heron successfully, cut him from the reachable lines, then took him onto shore. Danielle held the long blue bird securely while Rachel cut away every single strand. Neighbors from the surrounding houses provided scissors as they watched on. Once the heron was freed from the line, he was placed on an open space near the shore. The beautiful Great Blue Heron soared away!