Montana and Fishing for Birds
Tired from an afternoon of driving our little motorhome in a strong, late-afternoon wind, we were happy to find a country RV Park near Big Timber, Montana. This park proved to be a jewel! Situated on the bank of the Boulder River, it was guarded by very large Cottonwood trees that shaded some of the green, freshly-mowed lawn. A large spring provided sparking clear water for a couple of fish ponds where a fisherman caught a 3-pound trout earlier in the afternoon. Many smaller trout were also caught.
After a restful nap, Pat and I took a walk around the park to watch the fishermen and fisher kids. We carried binoculars and a camera – in case we saw any wildlife. We saw movement in a tree very near the river. On closer examination, we could see a small bird fluttering and flying is a very small circle. I could see that it was attached to a string that I first thought was a large spider web. (Large spiders sometimes eat birds.) The poor little bird struggled on and on but was obviously very exhausted – and could not escape whatever was holding it to the string. If left alone, it appeared to be doomed.
We hailed a couple of park managers who brought a limb cutter. By standing on their 4-wheel ATV and reaching up with a long-handled branch trimmer, the very small branch to which the string was attached was clipped. The little bird, string, and branch fell to the lawn. I grabbed the little bird gently to keep it from flapping its wings. With the other hand, I held the bird’s beak. Then it all became very clear. A fly fisherman’s hook had penetrated the upper mandible in a way that the bird was not injured, but was unable to escape.
Earlier, I had seen several small flycatchers flying to and from tree perches along the river as they hunted for flying insect prey. I tentatively identified them as Western Wood-Pewees. Our captured specimen appeared to be the same species.
Apparently, while it was hunting for insect prey, our little bird had spied this fisherman’s fly and caught it in its beak – then couldn’t release it.
It seems likely that this fisherman’s fly had caught on a branch while the fisherman was whipping his line out into the river water. The fisherman was likely disgusted to lose his favorite fly in the tree. He probably cut his line to attach another fly so as to continue fishing – maybe unaware of the hazard it posed to insect-eating flycatchers.
Anyway, while I held its beak, the park manager expertly removed the hook. I opened my hand to release the bird. It sat on my hand for a few seconds and then flew into a nearby tree. We all watched as a Goshawk flew into that tree, grabbed our little bird and ripped the flesh from its bones. Just kidding, just kidding! No hawk appeared and we all felt that we had made some small contribution to the balance of nature. The survival of that one small bird is probably of very little consequence, but it felt good to end the torture it must have experienced as it tried to escape that cruel fish hook.
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